Game 24: Angels at Yankees (updates with comments from Cashman and rehab news from Tampa)
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 02, 2009 
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YANKEES (13-10)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera RF
Molina C
Pena 3B
Gardner CF
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (1-2, 4.73).
ANGELS (9-13)
Figgins DH
Matthews RF
Kendrick 2B
Hunter CF
Napoli C
Morales 1B
Rivera LF
Wood 3B
Aybar SS
Pitching: RHP Matt Palmer (1-0, 6.00).
TIME/TV: First pitch at 1:05. The game is on YES.
ON A ROLL: The Yankees have won four straight, their longest streak of the season. They have not won five straight since last Sept. 17-24 when they won seven straight.
HOME COOKING: The Yanks are 6-2 at home and have won five straight.
STREAKING ON: Robinson Cano has an 18-game hitting streak, matching his career high. He has hit safely in 23 of the 24 games this season.
SLUMPING: Mark Teixeira is 2 of 24 and his batting average has dropped to .189. But he has drawn 10 walks in the last seven games. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth helped get last night’s game-winning rally starter.
MINOR MATTERS: Casey Fossum, who was signed yesterday, will start today for Scranton. The team is short on starters with Ian Kennedy (right hand) out for another few days and Jason Johnson (shoulder) on the DL. They were beaten 14-7 last night by Norfolk despite Shelley Duncan going 2 for 4 with two doubles and one RBI. Shelley is hitting .378/.446/.768 with nine homers and 28 RBI. … Trenton lost 9-7 at home against New Britain. Big Jorge Vazquez, the Mexican League veteran, has two homers and eight RBI in eight games. One of my friends, Joe D’Ambrosio, calls New Britain games and said Vasquez “hit an absolute bomb of a home run to center field” last night. He then fouled a ball off his foot in the fifth inning and left the game. The always rehabbing Alan Horne pitches today for the Thunder. … Jesus Montero homered again for Tampa. He has five on the season and is hitting .333. Dellin Betances (5 5 3 3 4 5) had a rough night.
Back later with much more.
UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: Talked to Brian Cashman about a few subects:
The bullpen: “It’s inconsistent. We know what they’re capable of and we’ve seen what they’ve done on the past. Having Bruney down makes it worse. Either it’ll right itself or I’ll have to right it for us. We got out of sort early on because of the Wang starts. But lately we’ve had some quality starts. It’s something we have to watch, no doubt about it. But at this time of the year, even if you want to do something, it’s not easy. We’ll ride it out for now and hope it corrects itself.
On the team being 13-10 despite its issues: “The pythagorean theorem would throw us out the door right now. We’re thankful that between the injuries and the inconsistencies that no one has run away from us.”
On Wang: “I was on the phone with Mark Lindsay (the rehab specialist) last night. He’s doing such hard-core physical therapy work from the ankles up to the hips so his pitch count will be kept low so we don’t interfere with that. He’ll throw 50 in extended spring today and see where we go from that.”
Cashman said Wang would now pitch every five days. “He feels good that he’s made a lot of progress. But it takes time.”
On A-Rod’s timetable: “We’re giving him tomorrow off regardless and then we’ll kind of see how this goes. We do have an idea of when we might be having him here. But it’s too easy to say whether that is a realistic idea.”
Cashman would not reveal that date other than to say it would not be on this homestand.
UPDATE, 12:30 p.m.: They’re playing the great Billy Joel tune Scenes From An Italian Restaurant at the Stadium and the close caption board in right field is keeping up including the “Oh, Oh Oh” parts. Kind of funny to watch the lyrics streaming by.
UPDATE, 1:19 p.m.: CC looked good in the first inning, striking out two guys. … Meanwhiile, people booed Angels starter Matt Palmer when he hit Jeter to start the bottom of the inning. Do you think he really wanted to do that?
Meanwhile, Jeter stole second and the throw from Mike Napoli hit him in the helmet then deflected into the face of Erick Aybar. He is leaving the game.
UPDATE, 1:26 p.m.: That’s a 12-game hitting streak and now 11 RBI for Hideki Matsui. He has looked pretty healthy for about two weeks now.
UPDATE, 1:42 p.m.: The Yankees have had a “seat upgrade” announcement twice already. Given all the empty seats, they might as well keep going.
UPDATE, 1:44 p.m.: Here’s the latest from Tampa:
The extended spring training team played the Pirates. A-Rod was 0 for 6 with two strikeouts and played five innings at 3B. Chien-Ming Wang threw four hitless innings. He walked two and struck out three. 52 pitches / 33 strikes.
A-Rod is 2 for 18 in three extended spring training games.
UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.: Ramiro Pena is sure fun to watch in the field. What’s amazing is that he was a Double-A shortstop with limited experience at third base. He has been working his tail off with Mick Kelliher and it’s paying off.
The Yankees should keep him around when A-Rod comes back for a lot of reasons: He can play 3B when A-Rod needs a day off. He can run. He can play SS and 2B and he’s got a decent bat. Interesting young player.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have let Matt Palmer settle in. I figured for sure they would knock him around.
UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Props to Matt Palmer. He has allowed one hit through five innings and has retired 14 straight. Why do the Yankees always struggle against these sorts of pitchers?
UPDATE, 2:51 p.m.: Jeter’s throwing error leads to an unearned run. This will surely lead to the inevitable “Jeter is no good” comments. Probably a story or two in the media as well. Never mind that the defensive metrics show that he has been one of the best shortstops in the game this season.
1-1, brand new game. Yankees need to generate something against Palmer.
UPDATE, 2:56 p.m.: Plus, you know, Jeter gets a lot of hits like that double to dead center he just crushed.
UPDATE, 2:59 p.m.: Tex pops up to center with a runner on third and one out. The crowd booed him. He is now in a 2-for-26 slump.
If Swisher were healthy, giving him a day off wouldn’t be a bad idea.
UPDATE, 3:04 p.m.: Bad, bad baseball there as Jeter doubles to lead off the inning and doesn’t score. … Meanwhile, pretty funny that the close caption board has the lyrics to YMCA as the grounds crew goes through their routine. Do you think the Yankee suits have any idea what that song is about? I’m sure they don’t.
UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Angels have first and second and nobody out. Bet they figure out a way to score. Mike Scoscia’s teams handle these situations well.
UPDATE, 3:14 p.m.: Bunt and an infield field. 2-1 Angels. This team may be struggling but they’re fundamentally solid.
Meanwhile, my pal Anthony McCarron is doing some blogging for the News over on Blogging The Bombers. Check that out if you get a chance.
UPDATE, 3:18 p.m.: CC Sabathia was furious as he left the mound, shouting something into his glove. He then fired his glove and cap into the bench and stalked off to the clubhouse.
He has not won a game since April 11 and he won’t win today. The Yankees will be 2-4 in his starts if they lose today. Unacceptable.
UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: If Jeter hits a ball in the gap here, Gardner will be running up Molina’s back.
UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Jose Veras? What does Dave Robertson need to do to get into a game? This game could get ugly fast.
UPDATE, 3:41 p.m.: The Angels must be running to the bat rack as Morales hits a rifle shot over the wall in right center off Veras.
Veras is just brutal. 6-1 Angels.
UPDATE, 3:49 p.m.: A home run and two walks by Veras so far in this inning. I realize he had success at times last season. But these middle relief types run hot and cold. When the time is up, it’s up. He’s of very little use on this roster now.
UPDATE, 3:57 p.m.: Hey, Dave Robertson. Surprised he could find his glove.
Bet he strikes two guys out.
UPDATE, 4:07: See, he did strike two guys out. But Robertson also walked two and allowed a single. What a mess.
The good news is the Yankees have allowed only six earned runs. That’ll increase their ERA from only 5.9321 to 5.9349. Progress!
UPDATE, 4:13 p.m.: The hit streak ends at 18 for Cano.
Back later with reaction from the clubhouse.
UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: Boy, this is some kind of bad game. Up 8-1, the Angels walk two in the ninth and commit a hideous error to allow the Yankees to score three runs.
Oy, Yanks, win one for Eli! I know you won last night for him, make it two in a row!
The AAA championship is as worthless as a roll of toilet paper. Wait, the toilet paper is worth more. If any guy in Scranton can help the big club, call them up.
casey fossum, former red sox bust?
Jorge Vasquez may be a guy to watch as the season goes on.
You can always use a bat like his off the bench.
If he keeps hitting, he could be this year’s Alfredo Aceves. A guy who goes from the Mexican League to the majors in one year.
You never know, I’ve seen stranger things happen in the game.
SJ: Peña’s Mexican, too! I dunno how/where he was signed, but man, maybe the Yanks found something in the water there.
Here’s hoping CC can keep the walks down tonight.
3 wins in a row against angels when is the last time that happened?
“Austin Jackson isn’t hitting for much power yet, but all aspects of his game seem major league ready. Jackson is hitting .356/.426/.458 with 5 SB in 59 AB. If Brett Gardner doesn’t show signs of improvement soon, Jackson could be called up to act as the Yankees 4th OF.”
CG FOR CC
Austin Jackson if he did get called up will be a starter not the 4th OF
henner
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
casey fossum, former red sox bust?…No former center piece of the Schilling deal.
SJ…let’s hope so. The season is about an 1/8 over and the bench, which looked like a strength is now looking pretty weak.
Let’s hope that Swish isn’t gone for long and when he does return he is not at 65-75%.
All in all it was a great game to watch…the bullpen tried it’s hardest to throw gas on the fire, but the offense wasn’t going to lay down, which they did all last year.
Jorge, IMO is the one guy that doesn’t lie down…let’s hope they reel of a great home stand.
Everyone have a good day, heading to the game tomorrow…can’t wait to see the new place and congrats Rebecca, hopefully you live close enough to your family to visit him often.
Yanks have WAY too many pitchers on the 40 man. They need to DFA one of them, and send Ramierez down to the minors. Put Duncan on the 40 man, and call him up. He’s raking…plus we need a OF/1B type to offset minor Swisher injury.
Plus a right Duncan coming off the bench is better than Molina, Berrora, at this point.
becca…for some strange reason, I think Pena will be a serviceable player for this team.
Hopefully a good outing from CC and win number 5 today. Thankfully no Fox game!
OT Rumblings:
Well there goes my Kentucky Derby pick “I want Revenge”. I will now be rooting for “Chocolate Candy”.
Does Omar Minaya need a hug or something? First he tells the NY press that the core guys on the Mets do not have an edge, then some time later he says his team does have an edge? Which is it?
If Cashman did that, some would be booking him a room at Bellevue Hospital.
Gardner still can’t hit Major League pitching, and Melky is schooling him right now.
Austin Jackson is not getting called up to sit on the bench.
Melky is the centerfielder until he plays his way out of it.
Gardner is fine as a fourth outfielder/late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner.
Swisher haa a bruised elbow. He’ll be fine.
No reason to rush Austin Jackson when he still has a lot to improve in Scranton.
*improve on in Scranton
re: Bullpen
How many more implosions before they put Joba in the setup role to handle the 7th-8th innings?
Does the rotation really need him more than the bullpen? THIS bullpen?
I don’t think so.
I don’t like Dave Eiland as the pitching coach, and never have.
Vader: We live in the same city! Different boroughs, but they’re only a subway ride (or two) away!
I’m going to the game today. Lohud fan meeting under in the Paul O’Neill area at 12:30.
Should be a personnel move before game time.
Tomko up along with Shelley Duncan. Edwar to Scranton and Veras dfa… that’s a hope/prediction not a fact. Cash will have a few days to see if he can get anything useful with a Veras/Miranda combo.
We’ve been talking about the imbalance on the 40-man roster for awhile now. Hopefully today will begin to address it. You don’t need 24-25 pitchers on the 40-man especially when a third of them are interchangeable fringe quality RHP. Ramirez, Veras, Jackson, Claggett. Albaladejo, Aveces, Robertson and Hacker are essentially the same guy. Keep three or four you like best and move the others for whatever you can get.
Personally I’d keep Robertson, Aceves and Albaladejo.
Jeff: Won’t be there till 12.30 309, row 7. Say hi!
If Casey Fossum ever throws a pitch for the Yanks, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Does anyone know if street parking around 145th-155th bet. Amsterdam and Bradhurst is a feasible plan? I’m not interested in paying the cartel to park.
Also, Pete should calm down. If he believes that the fate of the team rests on the fortunes of the fungible 11th and 12th pitchers, well, he’s forgotten what he himself wrote a few days ago. Veras won’t be around in June, etc. These guys at the back of the pen are totally replaceable.
SJ, you had to be happy with the fight this team showed yesterday, huh? This is just such a different team from last year – and they really had great at bats in the last two innings. I’m proud of them. It sucks that the pen is such an issue because it’s hard for the Yankees (for any team) to have to keep coming back – it can be demoralizing as well. I wonder if the players have said anything to Joe or Cash about the situation……
Aceves is pitching well right now – I don’t know how much faith I have in him in the majors, but at least bring him up to eat innings. Tomko unfortunately hasn’t been stretched out yet (smart move, Yanks – making him the closer in AAA) so bringing him up is not a possibility.
Does it not occur to him that the team ERA is magnified by Wang and the 22-4 debacle? If he really thinks that the 6th inning relievers are a fatal impediment to success, I doubt he’s ever really watched baseball seriously. If you can find me a pitching staff with lockdown 11th and 12th guys, you can knock me over with a feather duster.
Jeff…you bringing your brass knuckles???
I think the point is that pitchers 12-13 on the current roster cannot help this team, but Aceves/Tomko and Duncan would make it a better club and I completely agree.
Handicapping the 40-man roster with a conga line of mediocre at best RHP simply makes no sense and should be addressed immediately. SEe my above post for the eight guys I believer should be targeted. Clearly Robertson is the youngst and most talented of the group and thus the mosr likely to stay.
Melky is so much more of a value to the Yankees than Gardner. Melky plays CF and LF and is hitting the ball. Gardner seems only is playing CF. I hate that in late-innings Girardi moves Melky over for Gardner. I say when everyone is healthy bring up Duncan and send Gardner down.
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/241qjw5.jpg[/IMG]
Be there!
The Yankees need to make a roster move now. With Swisher banged up they are operating too short on pos plyrs.
Send Edwar back to SWB and bring up either S.Duncan or J-Rod.
Continue behind the scenes to work out a deal for Veras, if he can’t be moved, you have to DFA him he has no value on the 40 man roster.
http://i44.tinypic.com/241qjw5.jpg
When a Yankees’ fan calls for Tomko to be promoted, even over Edwar or Veras, I know he/she doesn’t know the game, at all.
As for pitchers on the 40 man – don’t be surprised to see a trade or two this year (like the Pirates deal for Nady/Marte) to clear up a few spots (we sent 3 40 man pitchers over in that deal).
When a Yankees’ fan calls for Tomko to be promoted, even over Edwar or Veras, I know he/she doesn’t know the game, at all.
As for pitchers on the 40 man – don’t be surprised to see a trade or two this year (like the Pirates deal for Nady/Marte) to clear up a few spots (we sent 3 40 man pitchers over in that deal).
Looks like blog traffic is slow this morning. Pete write something negative about ARod.
Veras is more talented than anyone they have in relief at any minor league level. They guy throws 95 and has a good curveball and slider. He just has problems with location at times. I think he cn iron that out since he did last year for long stretches.
There is nothing wrong with the fight on this team.
There is a lot wrong with the bullpen on this team.
Fight will only get you so far. A bullpen gets you farther.
Its something they have to address sooner rather than later because its a little ridiculous to expect the offense to score 10 a night to offset a bad bullpen.
“When a Yankees’ fan calls for Tomko to be promoted, even over Edwar or Veras, I know he/she doesn’t know the game, at all.”
Kindly explain where that could be failed logic.
A change needs to be made in the case of both Veras and Edwar, why not one fron in-house?
Tomko has not looked bad too date this spring.
Shelley Duncan to save the day? No thanks – I’ve seen enough of him.
From in-house*
Hey Rebecca congrats on being an aunt! First time?
I have 3 nephews & a niece. Significant difference between having any of those and having one of your own is that you can give those back when they get cranky or need a diaper change!
Betsy — totally agree about Duncan. He has proven himself to be a pretty decent AAA player. Das it. Let him stay and give someone else an opportunity to try to help the big league club.
I’ve had enough of Veras’s talent – rework his mechanics or dump him.
The guys in the pen I like outside Mo are Bruney, Coke, Alba, Marte (not willing to give up on him, but Joe has GOT to use him – I’d like him to explain how he’s supposed to work his problems out sitting on the bench), Melancon and Robertson. The latter two I like, but with reservations. Too many people are handing Melancon the 7th/8th inning role when he hasn’t proven a thing. We know he has talent – lots of players have talent. I want to see him prove it over more than 3 innings (or the course of his minor league career) before I’m ready to really trust him. Robertson I like as well, but again, he’s not reliable. He also has to be given low leverage situations to prove he’s trustworthy. I’ve had enough of Veras – not sure how I feel about Ramirez. I still think he can help the team…….
I don’t care if Shelley Duncan hits 400/600/950…
..He doesn’t belong up here. He has proven, unless you throw a straight fastball down the middle, he isn’t making contact…
Now that Kyle isn’t on the team, theres at least one pitcher out there that will challenge him like that.
Call him up for the KC games.
Hey Rebecca congrats on being an aunt!
The Yanks already have enough AAAA players. Shelley Duncan, Juan Miranda, Bret Tomko….they can stay down in SWB and win the IL because they’ll be no help whatsoever in the AL East.
Right now, who would you rather have as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th? Duncan, Berrora, or Molina?
Sorry, I’d prefer Duncan. I am not saying he is a savior, nor do I think he’s going to be a great MLB player. But for NOW, seeing as our bench is short and he helps out in OF/1B with Swisher needing some time off…why not give him a cup of coffee for a few games and send down a Ramierez?
…provided we get rid of some RHP arms on the 40 man we don’t need.
Agreed the pen is a problem.
What sre the alternatives?
I hope Robertson is given a chance, He has good stuff, Veras has good stuff too, but is not sharp now, so maybe getting some innings at AAA to work on his location might be the best in the end. While not the most popular choice Eric Duncan would be the most flexible player to bring up and strengthen our bench as he has been hitting well & plays 1b, 3b, and outfield. Miranda would be a better bat, but only plays 1b.
Too many “ifs” in the pen.
Albie, Ramirez, Veras and Marte are pretty much worthless.
They are stuck with Marte because of his contract. Ramirez and Veras really should be gone.
You would hope Marte’s pedigree and pride would take over and he can get back to attacking hitters and being the effective pitcher he was at other stops in his career.
Unfortunately though, at least right now, he’s a limited lefty specialist and nothing more.
This team goes nowhere with Veras and Ramirez in the bullpen. Both limited talents who simply aren’t good enough to be in the bullpen of a playoff team.
Albie? Like Shelley Duncan a AAAA talent. So so stuff, nice makeup, I suppose he would be ok if he wasn’t a featured player in the bullpen. Featured role? Not good enough to get the job done.
Coke? He has potential. He has to get more consistent and not be overused but, out of all the run of the mill arms in that pen, he is the one guy with the most potential.
Bruney? A weapon if healthy, a non-weapon if not. We have to see if he is healthy before determining what his role will be this year.
Melancon and Robertson? Both rookies and the jury is still out on both of them.
Taken as a whole, this bullpen isn’t good enough to help this team make the playoffs as presently constituted. Last year doesn’t mean anything. Bulllpens are combustable mixes every year and its very difficult to repeat success with the same group of guys.
That’s why they have to change it. Every day they don’t, is an opportunity lost.
Congratulations Rebecca! Hopefully we get to see some pictures of you are our lohudders at the game as well as newphew Eli. I don’t know if it’s a regional thing but around here we’re all auntie. Aunt sounds so formal when all you hear is auntie! In fact I’ll be an auntie again in August. I was never blessed (or cursed?) with kids of my own (insert “joke” here about the curse being for the kids and not me; okay I saved you the trouble!) but I have absolutely loved being an aunt(ie). Yes you can give them all your love and have an absolute blast with them – but then you can return them in time to watch your Yankee game in peace.
I do have a confession though and that is that if I get the opportunity to see my niece Isabella who is 2 and 1/2, and there is a Yankee game on, I do give her priority (not an easy choice, and I do try to leave in time to catch some of the game.)
About Melky in right. Last night I was wondering why Girardi put da melk in right because I trust him so much as the captain of the outfield in center; but when he did it again today, I’m thinking it has to be because with the YSLP (Yankee Stadium launching pad) you want your best in right.
Happy of course that Molina is behind the dish and just as happy to know that Jorge is available to come off the bench if we need him to pinch hit. Always interested to compare stats as they grow in terms of pitcher effectiveness/catcher.
Brandon of course said it best for anyone of us who long for Molina’s catching and Jorge’s bat at the same time. Wish it could be but Jorge will not be seeing DH as his major role. So I will just hope for more of Molina and hopefully enjoy the games when he’s in them.
GO YANKEES!
Later y’all
Betsy
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
I’ve had enough of Veras’s talent – rework his mechanics or dump him.
The guys in the pen I like outside Mo are Bruney, Coke, Alba, Marte (not willing to give up on him, but Joe has GOT to use him – I’d like him to explain how he’s supposed to work his problems out sitting on the bench), Melancon and Robertson. The latter two I like, but with reservations. Too many people are handing Melancon the 7th/8th inning role when he hasn’t proven a thing.
=================
If they’re handing him the 7th/8th inning role it’s because they know he can handle it. Melancon has proven himself worthy, just not to people who have only seen him for three games.
He is special, apart, ready as rain and the idea that Joe should not have brought him in last night I don’t agree with at all; he just is not like any one else we’ve got.
He isn’t going to fold up because a guy jumps on his attempt to get strike 1 over. Give the batter credit – I always believe the best and often only chance a batter has against Rivera is to jump on the first pitch. Matthews is a strikeout waiting to happen unless he’s aggressive early.
Also, the thought that Melancon can somehow be damaged by that outing shows me people here just haven’t seen him enough to understand what we’ve got. He really has the kind of equanimity I’ve only seen from Rivera. He views all “failure” as a lesson in the university of his pitching journey, and he will take the fruits of that lesson and apply them to his advantage. That’s just how and who he is.
Does anybody know if the Yankees game can be seen on the internet somewhere????
Congratulations Rebecca! Hopefully we get to see some pictures of you are our lohudders at the game as well as newphew Eli. I don’t know if it’s a regional thing but around here we’re all auntie. Aunt sounds so formal when all you hear is auntie! In fact I’ll be an auntie again in August. I was never blessed (or cursed?) with kids of my own (insert “joke” here about the curse being for the kids and not me; okay I saved you the trouble!) but I have absolutely loved being an aunt(ie). Yes you can give them all your love and have an absolute blast with them – but then you can return them in time to watch your Yankee game in peace.
I do have a confession though and that is that if I get the opportunity to see Isabella, who is 2 and 1/2, and there is a Yankee game on, I do give her priority (not always an easy choice, and I do try to leave in time to catch some of the game.)
About Melky in right. Last night I was wondering why Girardi put da melk in right because I trust him so much as the captain of the outfield in center; but when he did it again today, I’m thinking it has to be because with the YSLP (Yankee Stadium launching pad) you want your best in right.
Happy of course that Molina is behind the dish and just as happy to know that Jorge is available to come off the bench if we need him to pinch hit. Always interested to compare stats as they grow in terms of pitcher effectiveness/catcher.
Brandon of course said it best for anyone of us who long for Molina’s catching and Jorge’s bat at the same time. Wish it could be but Jorge will not be seeing DH as his major role. So I will just hope for more of Molina and hopefully enjoy the games when he’s in them.
GO YANKEES!
Later y’all
I agree, this bullpen isn’t playoff ready.
Neither was the Rays last year, yet they kept putting it together all year long. It’s not like we’re the Nationals, we’re still in the hunt. Soon Bruney & Alex will be back, Tex will start mashing & things will fall into place.
Any chance Tex’s slow start is a continuing problem with his wrist? I know he starts slow, but I wonder if he’s not right.
Yanks bullpen was terrible again last night. Veras was abominable. Angels pen was worse. No way Yanks win that game last year against KRod.
Didn’t Girardi state that the reason why Veras made the team was because of what he did last year?
That good will grace period has expired.
I am still not understanding why Girardi stayed with Veras so long last night. I have no idea what Robertson would have done in that situation but could it have been worse than what Veras did? Remember Torre pulling a guy after a lead-off walk? I liked that message. You want to pitch on this team? Don’t give up lead-off walks.
Harry N Skeeter
I live in Jacksonville FL, but I catch all the games on MLB.TV, the only games that are blacked out are the ones that are nationally televised, so then you can watch those on TV, video quality is good too $15 month
Jeff do you know the secret of the O’Neill banner?
What lies beneath
I still laugh at “REAL FANS v FAKE FANS FISTFIGHT!”
One more thing before I go, and please don’t jump in and act like you absolutely know the answer and there are no two ways just because you’re hating our pen. I’m not sure of the answer and don’t have time to look at the stats right now, but here is something I wonder.
If we had not had any difficulty with Wang, CC at the beginning, Joba when it happened, I think with AJ it was just one time, and Andy if it did happen (can’t remember all his games) giving us shorter than usual innings (and Bruney being down), is there a possibility that our pen would be performing better? Just something to think about. I will check responses out later and of course will just jet right by any that are one-word answers that start with the letter “n”). Give me some thought-out reasons, and “X stinks” is not a thought-out reason in my book.
Later.
Tomko is the AAA closer. He is not coming up to be the longman.
Longmen don’t win games. Long men are mop up men. The only time long men win games is in a playoff game, becuase the starter gets pulled if he sneezing wrong early on. Tomko/Aceves don’t make this club any better by being here.
SJ, I don’t agree with you on Alba. I’m not willing? to give up on him because he’s been inconsistent this year. Do we give up on hitters that are slumping? I also don’t think he’s a AAAA player, but we can agree to disagree on that.
I’m not ready to say that this team is going in the toilet because of their pen – but even if I were, I see no moves that can be made that will help the pen. Who would you trade for? There’s no one else to bring up – not too interested in another AA/AAA arm with potential and not much else.
Bodh, we’ll just have to disagree on Melancon. I’m not making my comments based on last night – I’ve said this before, and many times. I’m simply not willing to call him a reliable reliever until he proves it on the major league level. In that regard, he’s no different than anyone else.
I thought the O’neil banner was the site for the Gardner fans versus Melky fans brawl. It looked like it was going to be nasty, but the first Melky fan swung and missed, and the Gardner fans sprinted away.
Marte won’t get back to doing anything if he doesn’t pitch. Joe didn’t even pitch him in the games in Detroit…..
Its almost as if Girardi is holding in season tryouts to see which guys can be counted on in the bullpen.
That’s a big gamble because he’s not in the AL West. He’s in the toughest division in baseball. Every game blown now because of a bad bullpen, comes back to bite you later.
I agree with the fact that Melancon is special. That said, he also needs some time.
Putting him in the situation he was put in last night was setting him up to fail. That’s not how you develop players.
That was a mistake that I hope Girardi doesn’t repeat.
That said, there are too many bad arms in the pen. Something is going to have to be done soon or it will be the downfall of this team.
Heart is great. Fight is great. But, a good bullpen is better than both.
The Yankees need to have a better bullpen in order to make the playoffs this year.
That’s why, as much as EVERYONE (me included) is sick of the “Joba to the bullpen” talk, it won’t die.
Folks see him at the back end, moving everybody down a peg, as an upgrade to what they have now.
It is obviously but, if someone else (Bruney, Melancon, a trade acquisition, etc) can provide the same help, fine by me.
At this point, I don’t really care WHO it is. I just want somebody that is capable of throwing quality innings out of the pen more than once every four or five appearances.
ANSKY: Thanks!
V — Brett Tomko is an experienced major leaguer who has NEVER been as bad as Veras (7.94) is right now. Edward gives up more than two baserunners an inning. He also has a proven ablity to go 4+ innings which neither of these guys have done.
One shouldn’t critique someone else’s knowledge whilst one’s head is wedged up his own gludius.
Frank/JoeyA — Do you really believe a 13th pitcher is a better last guy on the club than Duncan or Miranda? You can’t seriously think that. If you are going to shoot down suggestions make a better one. It’s like the idiots who rail about who doesn’t make the All-Star team without saying who they’d replace them with.
Tex needs a HR in the worst way.
As a show of support toward Tex I am not changing my name.
Go CC!
By the way, I think Melancon was assuming the batter was taking first pitch strike and just threw a meatball. Rookie mistake. Happens. He’s still my guy.
Lets go CC, and how many hits for Robi today?
I’d rather see Aceves than Tomko.
And since Veras did well last year, I still think he could turn it around.
Zooboy, I mentioned that yesterday. I think the wrist injury may have sapped Tex of his power – now he’s just got warning track power. That would be devastating – perhaps there’s still a weakness that exists even if the wrist isn’t sore. The Yankees should have him checked out……..
I wish sometimes we could talk about the positives of this team. For one, they are only 1 game back of the Sox…….and this is after the Sox rolled out a 12 game winning streak. They have their own issues as well – let’s not pretend they don’t exist. For another, the SP hasn’t even started to roll yet. Pena has contributed, Melky has contributed – they don’t quit. It’s not all negative with this team.
SJ44,
I agree with your take on the bullpen. I think they should probably get rid of Veras/Albaladejo immediately.
I don’t think Edwar is quite as bad as those two but he would be the next to go on my list.
Unfortunately we are stuck with Marte, however I do expect him to be better in the future. He pitched well against the Red Sox (prior to giving up the HR that is).
I think Cashman should DFA Veras, call up a position player, send down Alba and call up Aceves. Aceves is a quality pitcher that can give you length or an inning here and there. Robertson also needs more innings and I hope Girardi hasn’t given up on Melancon.
But really, the guys we have just have to pitch better, that is the only true solution.
Trisha
I think we all know how you feel about Molina. If you don’t like some of the criticism matbe it would be good not to go there. I think it has been debated plenty on both sides and more won’t change peoples minds. Not trying to be critical just think it’s time to move on.
5+ ERA as a starter is equal too or worse than a 7 as a reliever. One bad outing can jack a relievers ERA. Please stop with the Brett Tonko as saviour crap. One good Spring Training does not eliminate 10 years of mediocre to awful pitching.
Betsy-Wasn’t it an 11 game winning streak?
I’m not worried about Tex. In fact, he’s he least of our worries. I think we should be worrying about Veras getting strikes in big moments.
Bronx Jeers, last year’s team wouldn’t have come back on any pen……….It’s interesting that when the Yankees win like this, they don’t get the credit so much as the other team gets the blame. Yet when the Yankees blow leads, they get the blame and the other team doesn’t get the credit.
Anyone know if the FOX/MLB super-exclusive, uber-blackout rules will cut off the broadcast today?
Going to see SWB tomorrow – will be interesting to see who gets the start on the hill. My money’s on Shelley.
Boston is dealing with injuries & pitching woes too, with their fans as fervent as ours there has to be a lot of panic on their side. IMO I think we have more solutions to those problems as our guys get healthy again. Most people agree that Tex is going to hit, C.C. & A.J. have given us a lot of innings even in their not so great starts, they are both pitching studs and will produce. Andy gave us a nice start before the 6th last night, he’ll be a steady producer Joba & Phil will do fine. A-Rod will have to shut up & let his bat do the talking, CANO for MVP (Take that Pedroia!!)
Albie did well yesterday.
He seems to do better in big moments.
Betsy,
Why do you think that is? Its because he has no confidence in him and rightfully so.
That’s how it is in baseball. Managers don’t have confidence in players when they continue to fail and the “tryout period” sometimes is really, really short.
Its why Brett Gardner is no longer the starting CF and why a guy like Marte (soon to be followed by Veras, IMO) is Missing in Action.
He’s limited to a lefty specialist role.
That messes up the pen because he was signed to that deal to get more than just lefty hitters out.
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way and he has to work his way back into the mix.
I’m guessing his side work must also be really bad and that’s another reason why he isn’t in games right now.
Albie? Is what he is. Guys like Albie are all over baseball. Not a featured player in a playoff bullpen.
Its a struggle right now for the pen. Meaning, it would be nice to see the starters get on a week or so streak of going 7+ innings each in games. That will take the heat off the pen for the moment.
I love the call to change the bullpen on here. I would love to hear some suggestions from people as to how to actually do it. What the Yankees have done is actually how I think you build a successful bullpen. It’s failed for the same reasons all bullpens fail. Middle relievers are mercurial and unreliable by nature, and that guy that was shutting the door down last year will be blowing it wide open this year. That’s why you don’t give guys like Marte, Farnsworth, etc. a dime. A reliable mid-inning option, over years, isn’t very commonplace.
So….yes, Veras isn’t very good, and Edwar and Albie aren’t Goose Gossage. We should absolutely move quickly to replace ineffective pieces. Those new pieces, though, are going to be just as big a question mark as the old one, and the solution was not to go out and some Juan Cruz-like “name” reliever either. Building a bullpen, to me, requires exactly the approach the Yankees took. It worked last year. It hasn’t this year.
Someone got lambasted unfairly here for questionning Dave Eiland, and I have to take issue with that. There are too many examples of pitchers who are/haven’t playing/played up to their ability these past two years. We brought this guy in to help the younger guys adjust to the majors. It’s happened with limited success. I do question whether Eiland is up to the task of being the pitching coach of the New York Yankees.
Betsy this team is very good and will only get better.
I can almost hear the Red Sox whiners …”Dustin’s betta”
Like they used too with Derek/Nomar.
I guess Girardi thought Melancon gave them the best opportunity to get Matthews out. That’s pretty telling about his confidence in the rest of the staff if he thinks a guy with 3 innings of MLB experience is his best option.
For all the griping here about the bullpen and other things, Yanks are doing well.
They are still just one game behind Red Sox and fourth in the league.
Things will only get better. Bruney handled 8th inning well and he will be back in a week or so and that will restore order to bullpen.
Tex is bound hit soon and when A-Rod comes back, even if he is 80%, the lineup will be imposing.
If they hang on for another two weeks without falling far behind, watch out, Yanks will go on a run and by mid-June will be leading the division.
What about Wang to the pen when he’s right again?
Pedroia didn’t deserve MVP.
I honestly believe Cano can keep this up all year, a 360 to 365 avg. pace. Batting title, here we come!
I’d be happy with 300, though.
On what are we basing the opinion that Aceves is a quality pitcher? His few good starts last year? He stunk it up in ST and got off to a lousy start this year in AAA. He’s pitching ok now so I might be inclined to bring him up, but it’s mostly because we just need someone to handle garbage time. I don’t trust him at all……
You can’t just take starters and turn them into the relievers. You risk destroying their arms.
Betsy-I’m not saying he’sa quality pitcher, but I’d rather see him than Tomko, not saying much.
Patrick,
That’s reasonable.
I HATE having 13 pitchers here. It makes no sense to me.
Our bench today is: Posada and Berroa. That’s it.
I’m sorry but, that’s just nuts!
The poor roster construction is one of the reasons why the bullpen is poor.
They are afraid to DFA Veras so, you have a guy on the roster who doesn’t belong on it, a 13th pitcher because your bullpen stinks, and you have one position player short on the bench.
That’s the stuff that drives guys like CB, 86 and myself nuts. The poor roster construction impacts the team in a negative way.
I for one would love to see some change in that area. This team spends too much time living on the edge with this type of decisionmaking.
Betsy, on Aceves…..I don’t listen to track record with bullpen pieces. If the pieces you’ve got aren’t working, you try new ones. It’s about what combination of guys keeps you winning. A lot of the times, what they did last year means a whole lot of nothing.
SJ44-I think our bench is good, we just had injury trouble that weakened it.
Debate if you want to, but I got to go. Go Yankees!
A note on Tex:
Just watched the replay of him scoring on Jorge’s hit, he looked like it was the world series.
This guy is GOLD. Just wait.
On a hot May night……
I guess Swisher’s still hurtin’?
Any word on if he’ll be available tomorrow?
I can’t disagree, SJ – and I agree that the majors are not the place for tryouts. Still, I think it’s too early to give up on him and he does need to pitch; can Marte be sent to AAA?
Just to clarify, I don’t think Alby is anything special, I just think he can be a decent 6th/7th inning guy……he has gotten big outs before and he’s a groundball pitcher. The pen has been messed up because of the problems with the SP -we’ll really know more about how it stacks up once the pitching settles down. Boy, I sure wish Andy could have pitched well yesterday – it seems like for every good start or two we have, another pitcher comes a cropper. It’s really about time these guys do what they are expected to do.
I also think Patrick’s idea is the way to go. Let’s hope that’s what last night’s meeting was about.
Aunt Becca
Congratulations to your family on Eli’s arrival. Much good health and happiness!
Coach 6423 — Tomko a “saviour” is a line only you have used. I call him more useful than Veras and Ramirez, that’s all. Just like replacing one of those two with Duncan or Miranda makes sense and improves the roster short term.
And Tomko’s career ERA as a reliever is 4.47… not very good, but not the 7+ you insinuated.
What changes would YOU make?
Wang can be extremely valuable to us if he gets healthy & can come back with his wicked sinker. I hope there isn’t one, but injuries happen at all positions and if he’s healthy how nice is it to have depth at starter. Look how valuable that start by Hughes is now, a lot of clubs don’t have the luxury of having a Hughes, Aceves, & Kennedy in the wings if a starter goes down.
Regarding Veras, if he stinks up one more time, I would not be surprised if they put him on DL and work on his mechanics, just like they are doing with Wang. He will not be DFAd.
Nobody thinks it’s ridiculous that Pettitte couldn’t get out of the sixth inning last night with a 4 run lead?
GeorgeInJax
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
I can almost hear the Red Sox whiners …”Dustin’s betta”
Like they used too with Derek/Nomar.
Made a bet with a guy in 1997 something like we’ll follow their careers and see who was better for their team at the end. He lives in Spain so I have not collected yet.
pat: Much thanks!
I plan to buy baby yankee clothes once I head out to the game (I’m only a fifteen minute subway ride away, which is why I haven’t left yet)
By the way there’s nothing wrong with having any of the group of Veras, Ramirez, Aceves, Albaladejo, Hacker, Jackson and Glaggett on the 40-man roster. But there’s no reason on earth to have more than 2 or 3 of them.
There’s nothing wrong with having Veras, Ramirez, Albaladejo or Robertson on the MLB pitching staff… but not all four of them!
They need to get back to 12 pitchers immediately and get someone up for the bench. Then they should dump at least three or four marginal RHP from the 40-man roster. Washington might part with an OF to get some arms since I’m better than half their bullpen.
Tex— You’re right today’s lineup with a bench of Posada, Berroa, Swisher and Nady would be terrific. Trouble is, two of the four can’t play today.
Maybe A-Rod can share some of his “special medicine” with the pen when he returns.
So you think we could talk Arizona into a Fossum for Webb deal? They practically handed Boston a World Series for Fossum so why not us? Oh that’s right, they’ll probably ask for Joba, Hughes, AJax, and Melancon just like they asked us for Soriano and Nick Johnson but instead turned around and gave Schilling to Boston for Casey Fossum. Unreal…
The poor roster construction is a lot due to the Alex/Nady injuries and with Matsui unable to play in the OF. There will be some middle relief cuts and a bench player added.
(Matsui is hitting well & he has been great for us in the past, but IMO he shouldn’t get another deal)
“V—- Brett Tomko is an experienced major leaguer who has NEVER been as bad as Veras (7.94) is right now. Edward gives up more than two baserunners an inning. He also has a proven ablity to go 4+ innings which neither of these guys have done.”
:rofl:
Small sample sizes for the WIN!
Brett Tomko put up a 5.55 ERA with the Dodgers and Padres in 2007 then a 6.30 ERA in KC and San Diego last year.
Do you know anything about the pitchers’ parks of the NL West? Yes? A 5.55 ERA in extreme pitchers’ parks is absolutely godawful.
But, 10 innings in AAA is supposed to mitigate the fact that the guy is a godawful pitcher.
If the inmates that post here had this way over the past two seasons, the Yankees would have traded Cano, traded Hughes, DFAed the bullpen, DFAed Melky, Joba would be in the bullpen, and the team would lose 100 games.
As to Robertson, Let’s not forget Joe’s comments when he was sent to AAA in ST – Joe was unusally negative about Robertson. That is, negative for Joe – he wasn’t positive at all, none of the usual “we loved what we saw from him, it was just a numbers game” sort of talk. What did he say? That he told Robertson he has the chance maybe to make it back up? I don’t remember exactly, but all I know is that I was upset at Joe the time for whatever it was he said. Maybe it’s because the kid doesn’t throw strikes – that worries me. I don’t think all of a sudden Robertson is going to find the zone.
What about the good things going on:
Cano is ripping the cover off the ball & great defense. MVP!
Melky playing well & getting clutch hits.
Pena coming up BIG TIME.
Come from behind rallies..YEAH!
Raymagnetic: Of course it’s ridiculous that Pettitte couldn’t get out of the 6th, but I’m not about to crucify him for it either.
Why are our pitchers so prone to falling into awful innings mid-game this year? Couldn’t be because our pitching coach and manager didn’t get them to be regular season-ready and our manager leaves them out there to die, now, could it? Just my $0.02. Feel free to disagree.
Betsy,
I don’t discredit the Yanks for doing what they did last night but I think the absence of KRod on that team speaks volumes on how important it is to hang onto proven commodities. The Angels didn’t think a closer was worthy of such a big contract. Luckily the Yank’s don’t subscribe to that philosophy.
Leyland said something the other night about who he would build a team around. His answer was a closer. A Mariano Rivera.
Yanks over the years have had very little success against KRod. I was very happy when I learned he would be leaving the AL. Last night was very enjoyable and a great building block for this team’s confidence.
I’m sure Krod enjoyed it as well.
Ray, I think Andy did a bad job – he’s pretty much getting a pass. He should be subject to the same criticism that CC and AJ get……..
Let me tell you, I’ll trust Cashman over the posters here, :rofl:.
George in Jax,
Thanks for the help, but I cant afford mlbtv on top of directv.
there was a site posted many times last year for saturday games.
also george, all Cano has to do to say take that to PerformanceEnhancingDrugROIA is to say “your brother is a pedo phile.
Congratulations Aunty Becca! Sorry, but nobody says aunt here.
You sound like you’re going to make a great aunt.
Anyone who says nothing or little is wrong with the pitching/bullpen is loco.
Relievers are world famous for being inconsistent from year to year (not to mention month to month).
These guys earned the job because of what they did last year and it came with contingencies. Well, they’re not pitching well, something’s got to be done.
Everytime I watch Edwar he’s doing okay. But I didn’t watch last night and apparently he’s not doing okay. Veras? Oi. Can’t walk the first batter everytime you come into a game.
Melancon is adjusting to the ML, he’ll be fine. Yes, Robertson should be used more. Albaladejo should stay, unless they can find another groundball pitcher. If it doesn’t hurt the 40, I’d bring up Tomko as the longman. Like SJ said, they need some veterans on that staff. Otherwise, I’d bring up Aceves as the long/swing guy. He’s 28, so who cares about his development.
I don’t know who should be sent down, but something needs to be done. Once the pride of last season’s Yankees, they’re now the league worst. Well maybe, after last night, they’re the 2nd worst.
M: thanks. I think ahaha!
….but CC and AJ shouldn’t get much criticism either. They’re not all of a sudden going to turn into bad pitchers. All three of these guys are going to be just fine.
Hell, I agree with the posters looking for good news…..this team is going to be just fine. We’re just looking at ways to get through the things that aren’t working. No one is forgetting that we finished April over .500 for once, that Robbie, Melky, and Matsui are doing great and that, for all his offensive troubles, Teixeira’s getting on base every game AND saving us runs with his great glove.
How many more implosions before they put Joba in the setup role to handle the 7th-8th innings?
———————————
None… if they envision him as a long-term starter (which EVERY indication says they do), he NEEDS to pitch innings to the point where he CAN handle 200-plus a year and still be effective (and healthy) in the post-season.
Having his pitch 70-80 innings as a reliever retards his progress as a starter another year.
He’s a starter now, not a reliever. Folks are going to have to come to terms with this.
GeorgeinJax, I think the tendency is for most people to concentrate on the negative, witness the number of calls to sports talk shows complaining about one thing or another. Most people don’t call in to talk about how great things are – I guess the same principal works on the message boards. I’m not under any illusions that this team is perfect, but no team is perfect and I think they’ve done a darn good job more than hanging in under less than ideal circumstances.
V
“If the inmates that post here had this way over the past two seasons, the Yankees would have traded Cano, traded Hughes, DFAed the bullpen, DFAed Melky, Joba would be in the bullpen, and the team would lose 100 games.”
Stupid comparison. Crack kills, put the pipe down.
Tomko over Veras-Edwar a relative low level in-house move, with little risk involved at this early stage of the season.
raymagnetic,
That’s on Girardi. He should’ve took Andy off the hook after Mathis’ 2-run single. He had 2 outs, but had already given up 3 singles.
He wasn’t sharp, and on top of that he was probably gassed.
Girardi, Eiland, the catchers, and the pitchers need to do a better job of slowing the game down. Too many big innings. 6, 10 runs at a time are not acceptable.
M @ 11:51 – Bingo.
Does anyone know if the game is going to be blacked out for people not in New York?
MainYankee –
say what you want. I will post how I feel about Molina anytime I want, and as much as I want. It is a statement about how I feel.
You can just ignore it if it gives you discomfort. If you want to respond to it and attempt to refute it, say what you want. If you do it with respect annd there is anything to answer, I’ll try to answer. If you just respond by saying you disagree, that’s fine too. That’s what this forum is for. If you disagree and get nasty or rude I’ll ignore the response.
But I am not saying it to rub it in or to try to get a reaction. I am just totally relieved when Molina catches. And I was also at the same time responding to some of the things people said in the thread after the game.
Later.
I have real concern about Tex’s wrist. Warning track power is not good – If his wrist is weak, he may need to rehab it. I think the Yankees need to get him checked out.
And the thing is we don’t have the league’s worst bullpen. It’s just performing the worst.
Across the board, they’re all missing their spots and overall not doing very well. Something is wrong. I want last year’s guys that went out their and pitched with confidence. These guys seem to be pitching scared.
And too many walks, not enough strike outs. Something is up with this whole pitching staff. Wacky.
Cano looks like a professional ballplayer and a force to be reckoned with at the plate AND on the field. So proud he’s living up to his talent and that he completely turned things around, he’s by far the best player on the team right now.
KEEP IT GOING ROBBIE!!! GO YANKS!!
Angels (9-13)
Figgins DH
Matthews RF
Kendrick 2B
Hunter CF
Napoli C
Morales 1B
Rivera LF
Wood 3B
Aybar SS
betemit would be starting at 3b and fat andruw would be wallowing in cf!
Trish, still down on Posada after his performance the last two nights?
“That’s the stuff that drives guys like CB, 86 and myself nuts. The poor roster construction impacts the team in a negative way.”
Yeah it drives me nuts too. The sad thing is, the Yanks had the same roster problems for the first half of last season. It took Cash awhile to figure it out and actually improve the roster. I hope he doesn’t wait around as much this year.
That’s the problem when you carry 13 pitchers… guys don’t get consistent work.
Though in Marte’s case, I imagine his side sessions are not very good like SJ said. Maybe they’re working on something behind the scenes.
V — why take part in a blog if you have nothing to offer other than your sophomoric criticsm? You have not made one suggestion to improve the bullpen other than to “trust Cashman”.
This would be a really entertaining discussion forum if that’s all we did. Maybe we can all sing Kumbaya while we’re at it.
I don’t mind people who disagree with me, in fact I love arguing. But to just criticize while offering up no original ieas of your own adds nothing to the discussion and makes you come off like a middle schooler.
On Tomko, I’m no fan at all… but right now something has to be done. I would prefer Aceves coming up to him. I chose to reference his career ERA as a relieer, you cherry picked his two worst seasons. I made no reference at all to his numbers in spring training or Scranton.
Your turn. Try to come up with something more thoughtful than I’m rubber you’re glue…..
I have real concern about Tex’s wrist. Warning track power is not good – If his wrist is weak, he may need to rehab it. I think the Yankees need to get him checked out.
——————-
Professional baseball teams have training staffs and doctors on call. Management is with the players hours before and after the games.
Do some fans REALLY think things have occur to them by watching games on TV doesn’t occur to the team?
Do YOU honestly think Yankees management isn’t fully aware of ANYTHING that might or might not be ailing one of their players?
Trisha
You misunderstood what I was trying to say. Your response is what I was refering to. Like I said I wasn’t criticising you. I was saying if you don’t like getting knock for your opinion don’t keep fighting. I am bothered by your reference to me being nasty and rude. I expressed my thoughts politely I thought. I don’t get why you think I’m being rude by doing that. I didn’t berate you or belittle you for your opinion.
I was just looking at the 40 man Roster & there is no one available as bench player, besides Juan Miranda.
While he has a nice bat, we have no room to play him with Matsui/Tex/Swish/Posada/& soon Alex tying up the DH/1b roles.
The 40 man is loaded with pitchers and pitching propects.
Cody Ransom needs to be DFA’d & with the emergence of Pena maybe let Berroa go too in order to make a few moves.
Then we could send Veras down to work on his location.
Eric Duncan would give us nice flexibility at OF/1B/3B and he’s been hitting well, maybe Shelly Duncan for a Bench Bat
Melancon may be “unproven” but he is sure as hell better than the “proven” guys like Edwar, Marte, Veras etc.
Anyone see Swisher’s collage in the background when he was being interviewed?
He had a pic of A-Rod sunbathing central park LOL
Tex’s shots that are stopping at the warning track is because his hitting is off, he’s hitting a lot of those under the ball. Once he grooves his swing you’ll see his power return & more line drives
Dman,
Great point. Last season, the bullpen management was spot on because they all got regular work and there was no ‘doghouse’. Maybe bullpen management’s only as good as your bullpen.
The major concern with the bullpen is Veras. You just cannot come in and walk your first batter everytime. He is truely the firestarter. The league has said hello and goodbye to many pitchers who have a wealth of talent and no control – see Daniel Cabrera, Rick Ankiel, etc.
Removing Wangs starts and Veras putting runners on they are not as atrocious as many think. Melancon’s ceiling and Bruney hopeful return provide a good change to bump down Albe, and Rameriz to the bottom of the pen. Coke and Melancon in the middle with a Bruney/Rivera tandem to finish it should be quite serviceable. I will start hitting the panic button in July, but I do not think the jury is out on our bullpen yet. Veras must go, and fast, though.
I love how when Andy implodes yesterday, it’s “just a bad inning”, yet when AJ imploded, he was showered with insults like a choker, mentally weak, gutless etc.
Tomko has not looked bad too date this spring.
I think the problem is thinking that at age 36, Tomko’s decent spring and AAA performance this year means he’s no longer the guy who put a 6.30 ERA last year and a 5.55 ERA in 2007. Why would anyone rational think he’s established a new level of performance now?
Any news on Swish? His elbow was swollen last night, no? Hopefully, it’s minor.
m,
Swisher is day to day with swollen elbow
Or, what V said.
SSS,
Wasn’t Tomko a starter for the bulk of his career? I wonder if he’s really found his place as a reliver now. Second Chance Tomko.
.860 ERA right now in Scranton.
Bronx Jeers
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
I guess Girardi thought Melancon gave them the best opportunity to get Matthews out. That’s pretty telling about his confidence in the rest of the staff if he thinks a guy with 3 innings of MLB experience is his best option.
============================
I think it’s equally telling about his confidence in Melancon.
That thinking is grounded in the combination of makeup/stuff/command/smarts the kid brings to the table. I can’t find fault with it. I myself was hoping to see him in that spot and would have zero qualms about doing it again.
Melancon is so highly regarded that I don’t think you’ll see the typical training wheels applied.
The foundation is strong enough to withstand the inevitable “failures.” You don’t come away from that thinking “Oh my God, he’s not ready for that kind of pressure cooker,” – I sure don’t. He’ll get hit, he’ll bounce back. He’s on a quick curve as his ability/maturity warrants.
No point in gilding the lily with only “low pressure” appearances in out of reach games.
Of course everyone is behind Matsui now that he’s hitting, same people calling for him to be benched 2 weeks ago.
If there is one thing I know about Yankees fans is they could not run a ballclub in a Little League.
I’m going to just wait and see if Girardi knows more about baseball than most bloggers and see what happens with the pen.
Luigi,
Thanks. I think I read that the films were negative, so hopefully the swelling goes down quickly and his muskels aren’t too sore. I guess he’s the mascot for the day. If it was a Fox game, they’d mike him up!
Robertson is no savior.
A guy who walked 4.5 per 9 last year in the majors and minors isin’t going to save us.
His ERA is meaningless in the minors. High walk rates in the minors don’t translate well to the majors. He had the exact same walk rates in MLB as he did in AAA last season.
He’s worth a shot, but don’t expect him to save the pen.
Rex the wonder dog is nuts
“Cody Ransom needs to be DFA’d & with the emergence of Pena maybe let Berroa go too in order to make a few moves.”
I don’t think they can. ARod’s health is no guarantee.
Sort of like when they had 3 catchers last season.
rex hudler is outstanding
bod
I think putting Melancon in that situation could also be part of his learning curve. It could pay dividends later.
If you were Girardi, who would you bring in with the bases loaded?
Veras?
Marte?
Edwar?
Albaladjeo?
Robertson?
Coke can’t pitch every day. Melancon was the best option there. Just because Veras/Edwar have more “experience”, doesn’t mean they are better options. Melancon was pitching the best and got out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in Boston a few days earlier. Just didn’t work out, but it was the best option.
Ransom is on 60 day DL, i dont think they can DFA him, as for the bench i think they are 1 player short, Shelley would be a good fit, too bad hes not on the 40 man
SSS
“I think the problem is thinking that at age 36, Tomko’s decent spring and AAA performance this year means he’s no longer the guy who put a 6.30 ERA last year and a 5.55 ERA in 2007. Why would anyone rational think he’s established a new level of performance now?”
If that’s the plan then why even bother carrying Tomko?
The question is, does Tomko provide a better alternative at this point in time then Veras? It’s really not too complicated.
Cards: we’re not looking for Robertson to be a savior. We’re looking for 1) him to be a viable piece of the bullpen, 2) someone who could develop into a valuable, reliable late-inning option. #1 is a short-term goal. #2 is a long-term goal.
Maybe this is the issue….too many of you are looking for a savior here.
Honestly……why not Tomko? Having a Brett Tomko on your team is no admission of failure. If he’s got the hot hand, you go with the hot hand. When he gets cold again, he can go and start a poker game with Danny Giese and Aaron Small.
Mark D
I’m happy with Matsui’s hits of late, but in the big picture he doesn’t help the club too much.
As far as Girardi’s moves with the pen, he can only manage who he gets, let’s see if together with Cashman they make the right move.
As for last night Andy pitched a nice 5 and faded in the 6th, only because he’s a veteran does he get that much rope. Andy gave us what he had. Most managers are happy if their starter can give them a solid 5.
“The question is, does Tomko provide a better alternative at this point in time then Veras? It’s really not too complicated.”
I’m fairly certain Veras projects better going forward. He’s got better stuff than Tomko, he’s younger, and he has pitched better than him the last two years. The only argument for Tomko is the 2009 small sample size performances for both him and Veras.
You’re right, it’s not too complicated.
Melky hits 6th? I think that’s the start of a disaster…
I remember last year ,Girardi put melky in the 6th spot
due to his hot streak,and then he started to press then he got into
a big slump and never got back during the season…..
I hope the now hot Melky is not a fluke….but….it’s hard to believe
it’s not…
““Cody Ransom needs to be DFA’d & with the emergence of Pena maybe let Berroa go too in order to make a few moves.”
Ransom is on the 60 day DL. He is not affecting the roster in any way. Going on the 60 day DL means he’s not tying up a 40 man roster spot or 25 man roster spot.
UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: Talked to Brian Cashman about a few subects:
The bullpen: “It’s inconsistent. We know what they’re capable of and we’ve seen what they’ve done on the past. Having Bruney down makes it worse. Either it’ll right itself or I’ll have to right it for us. We got out of sort early on because of the Wang starts. But lately we’ve had some quality starts. It’s something we have to watch, no doubt about it. But at this time of the year, even if you want to do something, it’s not easy. We’ll ride it out for now and hope it corrects itself.
bodhisattva ,
Yeah I don’t fault Melancon. Matthews was thinking aggressive and he got it.
I really liked Melancon’s acrobatics on the wild pitch too. Sort of reminded me of the old Dominik Hasek glory save.
anybody remember the site where i can watch the game today for free?
“Rex the wonder dog is nuts”
or, alternatively:
Rex the wonder dog is high as a kite.
SSS
Yes you are correct on the 40 MAN/DL
The point is there are no bench players there to help us now without making a few moves.
MaineYankee
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
bod
I think putting Melancon in that situation could also be part of his learning curve. It could pay dividends later.
======================
Yes, I think it will, because he’s a kid who is resourceful. He’s always thinking, working on his craft. You all saw it in that situation he worked himself into up in Boston. I was actually excited that he was in that fire, just to watch him try to put it out.
This was different, because he walked into a fire of someone else’s making, so that’s an interesting problem for a problem solver like him to have to face. He tried to get ahead and it backfired. Big deal. Take what you can get and move on to the next challenge.
I can’t tell you how thrilling it is for me and I’m sure, others here, who have had the pleasure of watching him pitch in the minors, now finally seeing him in the Bronx.
His rise might be meteoric to some, considering the IPs and coming back from TJ, but for us it’s been a long wait!
SSS
“I’m fairly certain Veras projects better going forward. He’s got better stuff than Tomko, he’s younger, and he has pitched better than him the last two years. The only argument for Tomko is the 2009 small sample size performances for both him and Veras.”
Really? Veras is done he won’t see the all-star break. It’s only a question of who replaces him. Tomko is being carried for a reason.
It sounds like Swish is going to be out for a few games at least – I think he said there’s a lot of fluid there – he got hit pretty badly.
Cashman: “….But at this time of the year, even if you want to do something, it’s not easy. We’ll ride it out for now and hope it corrects itself.”
In other words, We know there’s a fire in the kitchen but the fire department is currently dealing with a nasty 3-alarm so we’ll just have to make do with the extinguishers we bought at K-Mart.
I’m am not a fan of Brett Tomko, just throwing out an option. I do however see the handwriting on the wall with Veras, he’s gone, furthermore there are better alternatives in house.
Any suggestions SSS or V other then Veras has better days ahead because you think so?
Bronx Jeers
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
bodhisattva ,
Yeah I don’t fault Melancon. Matthews was thinking aggressive and he got it.
I really liked Melancon’s acrobatics on the wild pitch too. Sort of reminded me of the old Dominik Hasek glory save.
=================
That’s a scream. I love Hasek. Talk about unorthodox.
Yeah, that’s typical Melancon, following up and never giving up on a play. I was a little concerned about him getting hurt there. Same queasy I had in Boston with Joba’s valiant, in vain dive at the plate. Both kids are mensches (or however it’s spelled).
Betsy
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
It sounds like Swish is going to be out for a few games at least – I think he said there’s a lot of fluid there – he got hit pretty badly.
========================
That’s a bum break. Just in time for Blow Sox. I love what our kids are doing, but we need another bat, and one that can handle breaking pitches (translation: S. Duncan need not apply). Can we please bring Miranda here, already. Guy carries a LH club.
Good for Joe.
Defended use of Melancon in that spot: “If it’s a popup, we’re talking about what a great job Melancon did.”
Preach, skipper!
As I’ve been saying all along, because of the wrist injury, Teixeira is effectively lost for the season. Just look at Jeter 2008.
Pete,
Thanks for the updates. I don’t know how this team is 6-2 at home with all the runs we’ve given up. Something needs to be done STAT. Can’t keep playing with fire.
Hey all, one quick thought:
- Having now watched Ramiro Pena on a consistent basis I’m becoming increasingly more impressed with him. He’s a vaccuum with the glove, doesn’t give away ABs, and he can run a little bit. Two to three years from now the Yankees and we as fans should be very excited about the team we’re going to field, especially up the middle. Pena at short, Cano at second, Montero behind the plate, Austin Jackson in CF, and Joba, Hughes, and a cast of thousands on the mound.
I don’t think Cash gets enough credit for rebulding the farm system in such a short period of time and having to put up with all the nonsense that he does. Has he made a few mistakes? Sure. Evaluating talent is like picking winners in the stock market – it’s a gamble. You just hope you’re right more often than not. Anyway, the Don has spoken; enjoy the game.
“Don Fanucci”
In regards to Melancon last night, he actually threw a decent fastball on the outer half of the plate…Matthews was guessing fastball and ripped it. I guess Trish can blame Posada for that
If you beat Jason Bay, you beat the Red Sox.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Is there any doubt that the Red Sox are even better with Jason Bay than Manny?
===============
Except that we’re talking about the preclusive difference between a good hitter and a hitting genius. Can’t even seriously debate that one.
I’m watching the pre-game show and could someone please tell Nancy Newman she is NOT 25 anymore, or 45 for that matter! She is just brutal to listen to and watch.
anyone have links for yankees? i found this.. i hope it works…
http://www.justin.tv/ilovetheyankees
I’ve been making fun of my Met fan brother for having Casey Fossum (the worst pitcher in baseball) on his team. Now he is in our system. That Cashman would waste a penny, a coach’s minute or roster spot in the organization on that bum shows how absolutely clueless he is.
Speaking of Billy Joel, I have tickets to Billy Joel and Elton John this summer in DC. I heard they put on quite a show, can’t wait!
Translation from Cashman: “We know our bullpen stinks. We also know we are limited to what we can do because of roster constraints. We will give it another couple of weeks and if there is no improvement, we will have to rebuild it on the fly again”.
Cashman isn’t stupid. They didn’t spend this kind of coin on the roster to have the bullpen ruin their chances. He also knows this bullpen isn’t good enough to win long term. Problem is, with Bruney hurt, Melancon getting his feet wet, and Wang out, his options are limited to fix it internally.
If a few things break right for the Yankees, they will be able to fix it internally. If not? He’s going to have to go outside the organization to find arms for the pen because you can’t hamstring the manager with a bullpen this bad.
I’m a strong Cash supporter but his dealings with the roster are really, really bad. Why are they so hesitant to bring up another bat, and shuffle off Veras, and bring up a long guy?
Ramirez I believe has another option left so he can be returned to SWB for Tomko.
Why do we have 13 pitchers on the roster and (2) reserve position players?
We don’t know how long Swisher is going to be either unavailable or ineffective and we are going into this game short,, by choice!
I gave Cash an A- during the offseason, the – for not picking up any decent Utility IF. So far in the season his maneuverings deserve a F.
If he’s doing this on Girardi’s input than Joe G isn’t as sharp as I thought he was. Don’t like this at all.
Tell your damn SP to give you 6-7 and deal with a 7 man BP.
SJ,
Good post. Based on last year’s results, this bullpen was supposed to be good. But somebody uncorked the bottle that was holding the lightning.
At least notice has been served.
CC needs to be aggressive from the get go.
Ramiro Pena is beginning to look more and more like a legitimate major leaguer. I love the aggressiveness he brings to the table.
I hope we don’t here the proverbial, “We’re sending him to Scranton to get him consistent at-bats.” It’s going to be up to Girardi to get him at-bats when A-Rod comes back. I’d rotate him around the infield, getting him at-bats while giving Cano, Jeter and A-Rod occasional rest.
I love how everyone has already given up on Gardner.
You think Twins fans have given up on their future star CFer Carlos Gomez with his nasty line?
Gomez – .200/.250/.311/.561
Gardner – .229/.279/.293/.551
Hmmm
“SJ44, what happened to Mark Melancon last night?
I thought he is suppose to be “The Beast.””
We apologize on the behalf of Mark Melancon for him making 1 mistake in 3 outings thus far in the major leagues
Manny Ramirez is a much better hitter than Jason Bay. There is no debate.
Don’t let Bay’s hot April cloud your judgment. Bay’s a good player, but he’s due to cool off.
Meanwhile Manny is doing what Manny always does. Crushing the ball.
Other than Albert Pujols, there is no hitter I’d rather have up with the game on the line. He’s going to finish with over 2,000 RBIs for crying out loud.
There’s no one who’d rather have Bay up with the game on the line instead of Manny.
Nice to see the Red Sox trolls here early. Maybe go help David Ortiz remove the fork from his back.
I just don’t get why Aceves isn’t up here – their SP has been crappy, regardless of the #s on the backs of their baesball cards. The Yankees need to deal with reality – until their SP gets on track, they need someone (and I don’t even love Aceeves) to eat innings just so the pen doesn’t continue to get abused. I love Cash, but what the heck is he doing?
Rconn,
Exactly. That’s what happens when the Sox play at night. We get Sox trolls in here during the day games.
What happened to Melancon? He threw a bad pitch.
Believe it or not, it happens.
Take Josh Beckett for example. He now throws about 50 bad pitches a game.
Just the way the ball bounces.
RGR, Gomez has 5 tools Gardner has 2.5, 3 at best.(Fielding, speed, contact(1/2)) No power and no arm.
Not to mention that Minnesota isn’t exactly NY with expectations.
I like Gardner and think he could be our version of Pedrioa, but his old habits are already starting to resurface
Manny is easily one of the top (3) hitters in baseball, somewhere in the mix with Miguel Cabrera and Puljos. IMO.
Manny is also a prima donna who sold out his teamates in order to get a new contract. He is a great bat but a low life.
Jason Bay is an excellent bat who has proven over a year in Fenway he can hit in pressure situations, he is also by all indications a good teamate and low maintanance.
As a FA next year, Bay will get big $$ from someone.
Correction on above, Bay has been with the R-sox less than a year…
Manny is the difference between winning the WS last year, and not for the the Red Sox. With Manny, the Sox would have won.
Hey SJ –
What sort of trades would you recommend for BP help?
Just curious.
Red Sox trolls ought to worry about their own team. Beckett, Lester and Penny have been bad and Ortiz is struggling to say the least.
The Twins aren’t happy with Carlos Gomez so, what’s your point?
They traded the best player in the recent history of the franchise for a bag of balls.
You think Twins fans are happy with that trade.
They could have had Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera, among others for Santana.
Instead, they have nothing.
Gardner has not been able to hold onto the job. He’s not going to get a season long tryout because this isn’t a second division baseball market.
Believe it or not, the Yankees actually want to win the World Series this year.
If Melky falters, Gardner may get another shot.
If he doesn’t, he has nobody to blame but himself for not seizing the opportunity.
That’s how it is in pro sports. Opportunities are rare and when you get one, you have to seize it.
“RGR, Gomez has 5 tools Gardner has 2.5, 3 at best.(Fielding, speed, contact(1/2)) No power and no arm.
Not to mention that Minnesota isn’t exactly NY with expectations.
I like Gardner and think he could be our version of Pedrioa, but his old habits are already starting to resurface”
Gomez doesnt have 5 tools. That term is WAY overused. Where has he ever had average or power?
“Don’t let Bay’s hot April cloud your judgment”
hmmm.
Have you compared last season’s hitting with RISP numbers for Bay and Manny?
There are a lot of panicky people here. A few days ago Jorge had to go. Yesterday people were bashing Tex. Today it is the bullpen. If Jeter makes an error going to his left today everyone is going to wonder why they don’t bench Jeter for Pena.
Chill out people! It is like listening to a highschool locker room in here.
Cashmans description of the bullpen was spot on. Given past performances there is a strong chance they turn it around. If not he will shake things up.
Melancon came in with the bases loaded yesterday and gave up a hard hit. I would rather him be aggressive there than walk a batter. Veras was horrible, again, yesterday. He must go, otherwise what is the big deal? What has changed? Out starting pitching had more ER than our relievers yesterday.
Granted it’s only May 2, however one thing is becoming apparent, this club is displaying the will, desire & the ability to come from behind…This was part of the DNA character of Torre’s Championship teams….You just always felt that they would find a way to come back and win…..It’s a must trait to becoming a Championship ballteam…..The 15-5 run is alive & well….
RGR
I’m not sure the RS would have won with Manny. The club house was in real turmoil and it seemed to affect the play on the field. I believe at least 24 of the roster wanted him gone. I think Ortiz was the 1 that didn’t.
SJ44, don’t think it was as much a bad pitch as it was just flat out guessed. 1st pitch fastball over the outside corner is hardly a bad pitch….it wsn’t up in the zone either.
This is not the best team for Sabathia to be getting back on track. They are hitting .320 lifetime combined off of him. Not pretty.
“Take Josh Beckett for example. He now throws about 50 bad pitches a game.”
great line!!
Melky will without a doubt falter. Dont let his hot April fool you. He did this last year, everyone got excited, then his HRs turned into ugly looking strikeouts. Its unfortunate that we have 2 bad options in CF. Melky = Shelley Duncan. They both suck, but people get excited when they start jacking HRs, and then extremely pissed when they begin to suck
Pretty surprised how candid Cashman was about the bullpen
I guess there’s no way to sugarcoat it. It’s awful.
Relievers are an inexact science. With anybody not named Mariano Rivera, Girardi needs to know each reliever’s capabilities and establish roles depending on the workload each one can withstand.
On a game by games basis, the relievers expected to be used need as much thought as putting the postion players lineup together. For example, today’s relivers should come from Coke, Robertson, and Marte as a situational lefty. Melancon only thew 11 pitches last night and he can be available.
Veras needs to be removed from the roster and why is David Robertson being ignored ?
here you go, trolls:
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?
now go away.
The bull pen was obviously very bad again last night.
That said Pettitte’s performance – like AJ’s in Boston – was what put the team in the hole.
A starter is staked to a lead like that against a light hitting, overly aggressive line up with little power – he must make that stick. Especially when the pen is having problems.
Andy was the fundamental problem last night and let’s not lose sight of that.
Again – not saying that this is going to be an ongoing thing. But last night the team’s struggles were primarily related to Andy faltering with a lead.
To bring Melancon in with the bases loaded – tough spot. Not fair to Melancon to try to clean up Andy’s mess.
There’s an interesting correlation this year – when the starters go at least 6 good innings the bull pen is not nearly as big a problem with their performance.
Starters don’t give them enough length or hold the lead – bull pen suddenly becomes a much bigger problem.
yeah, really don’t love this matchup for CC
hope the bats can come alive. we desperately need a long man
So no blackout for the early games? I’m getting a commercial break on mlb.tv.
Relax!!!!!!!!!! The bullpen you see now is not going to be the bullpen you see in July or September. Half those guys will be gone.
“I’m not sure the RS would have won with Manny. The club house was in real turmoil and it seemed to affect the play on the field. I believe at least 24 of the roster wanted him gone. I think Ortiz was the 1 that didn’t.”
Team chemistry is overrated. They would have won. They all probably wanted Manny gone in 2007, but they still won. Manny came right out and said after they were down 3-1 to the Indians that “theres always next year”
Give Veras a break. I know he hasn’t pitched that well but his stuff is good and he’s relatively young and it’s too early to give up on him. It isn’t like he’s never had success before. Why are fans so impatient? Let him run off a string of good outings and you’ll see fans jump right back on his bandwagon.
I wouldn’t make any trades for the bullpen right now because the market isn’t there yet to consider trades.
If its me, here’s what I do to fix the roster at the present time.
DFA Veras. He’s out of options, he’s not part of the future and he is not good enough to be part of the present.
That frees up a spot on the 40 man roster. I add John Rodriquez and call him up for the bench. They need another OF bat with a little pop and he can provide that. They also don’t need 13 pitches on this roster.
I send down Edwar and call up Aceves, if they want to avoid another roster move, which would be needed in order to call up Tomko. Aceves is the kind of swing guy that could bridge some things in the pen.
When Bruney is activated, send down Albie or Robertson, whomever is pitching worse.
When its time to activate Arod, send down Gardner or John Rodriquez.
Those would be my May moves. If the bullpen is not better by June 1, then you have to explore the trade market, which would just begin to be forming a bit at that time.
I would think a 6’4″ 215 pound dude is going to have some pop at some point…Gomez is still developing. He’s got some awards in MiLB and really hasn’t had a full season. Definetely more upside than Gardner with his make up if you don’t like the whole 5 tool thing
Cash sees the problem with Veras, Edwar, and Albie as well as anyone else. But, as he indicated, the real problem is how to fix it.
He’s not just going to give those guys away. With the state of middle relief in baseball, those guys actually do have some trade value. Heck, look at what happened to LaTroy Hawkins last year. He couldn’t get it done in NY, was picked up by the Astros, and was a new man.
But, from reading around, not too many GMs are looking outside their own organizations right now, for a combination of reasons. So that makes it hard to make a deal to unload some of these guys. And to send them down to AAA just blocks other guys who need to develop.
As Cash indicated, there will come a point where something will break. Either the pitchers get it going, or they will be forced to make changes, regardless of the cost. As SJ said, above, they really do want to make the playoffs this year.
I love seeing Carlos Gomez fail. He’s way too smug and arrogant for someone who hasn’t done squat yet.
Veras will never make it through Waivers. We’ll lose him and will regret it. I kknow you’re down on him SJ, but I’m going to give him a little more time.
There should not be any Sox trolls around to trumpet anything. The Sox starting pitching is currently in shambles and Ortiz looks like he may be done. The bottom of the order is weak at best.
Congrats on a good string of wins. The best sign for you guys this week has to be the great starts by Hughes and Joba.
Have a good weekend.
-dennis
Pat M, I agree – I understand the negativity about the pen, but we can’t talk about any positives coming off of last night? You can fix the pen, but you can’t fix a lack of heart or will to win. I never thought the Yankees quit trying last year, but something was missing…..
If NYY needs outfield help from the system, I’d rather see them bring up Todd Linden, who can play all three outfield spots. At age 29, he hasn’t had a lot of success in the majors, but, he’s worth a shot. Doesn’t cost anything.
CB,
Agreed but, one problem bleeds into another. Girardi has such little confidence in the bullpen, he leaves Pettitte (and AJ last week) in the game too long when they are struggling and that just adds to the problems.
Its pretty hard to expect AL pitchers to go 7 strong all the time. You have to have guys you can count on in the pen.
I’m saying they have to be perfect. However, when you take Mo’s numbers out of the pen, they average almost 8 walks per 9 innings and have an ERA of almost 9.
That’s just not good and its been that way all season, save for a couple of performances.
There are some arms out there worth keeping. A healthy Bruney, Melancon and Coke being three.
They are stuck with Marte so, they have to live with that.
That leaves Mo and 2 other arms to round out the pen.
Its the “two other arms”, (three, when you consider Bruney is on the DL) that are really hurting the team right now.
That’s the area of improvement Cashman has to hit and hit fast, IMO.
CC needs to pitch like an ace today – he’s been too inconsistent thus far
SJ, agree on your 1.00 post except for (2) points
- When A-rod returns I send down Berroa or DFA him, vs. sending back down J-Rodriguez or Gardner.
- When Bruney returns I send down Alba.., leave Robertson in NY and use him.
“I would think a 6’4” 215 pound dude is going to have some pop at some point…Gomez is still developing. He’s got some awards in MiLB and really hasn’t had a full season. Definetely more upside than Gardner with his make up if you don’t like the whole 5 tool thing”
you would think, but I doubt it, unless he bulks up and gives up his speed. He will never be a 5 tool player. He has way more upside than Gardner. But thats my point. Why are we making it seem like Gardner is doing awful, when someone with MORE talent is doing arguably worse? Just because its NY? Thats ridiculous
Don’t dfa Berroa we might need him. Never know what could happen.
Let’s Go Yanks!
So which Yankee will get injured today?
nice play by gardy!
You never regret losing a guy like Veras.
Even in his best years, he isn’t a guy that spells “regret” if you lose him.
Perhaps they can deal him to a deal that has awful relief help and a surplus of something (OF?) the Yankees need.
But, what they can’t do is, continue to trot him out there and watch him torch appearances.
Watching Girardi’s expression on his face during Veras’ outing last night, followed by Cashman’s comments today, its pretty clear Veras is “on the clock”.
Only question is, will he right himself or will they finally give up on him?
Red Sox troll,
I’m sure you’re cherrypicking small sample sizes.
Here’s a larger one.
Career avg. with RISP Bay .281 Manny .329
More importantly look at Bay’s career numbers versus Ramirez stats.
Manny’s numbers, year to year, dwarf those of Jason Bay.
This really should be obvious.
Swish is just day to day. Nothing serious.
Nice K by CC
Berroa won’t be going anywhere. He’ll be back in Scranton before you know it.
My mlb.tv konked out, but CC good so far?
I’m so glad Da Gard is there as the captain of the outfield.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist:)
He took the right route to that ball.
He took the right route to that ball.
SJ, I concur – good plan. I don’t know why Aceves isn’t up here – granted, though, that up until the last two starts he’d been pitching terribly. I don’t think he’d be anything special here, but he would take the burden off of the pen – even if we have to sacrifice a game, it would be worth it.
The fact is, the SP must start pitching better. If CC, AJ and Andy don’t pitch well, then the team is shot they can’t overcome that (no team could).
“I’m so embarrassed. Look at all of the empty seats.”
When A-rod returns, Berroa becomes irrelevant.
NY has Russo at AAA to come up in an emergency, once Russo is off the DL, and if Ransom is still NY property after his DL time, when Ransom comes off the DL he can be brought up in a jam if either Russo performs bad like ST, or if Pena gets hurt.
The Berroa signing is still a head-scratcher, not sure what NY was thinking with that.
btw Melky probably wouldnt have made that play Gardner made as Melky always takes steps back before coming in for a ball.
fantastic first by cc…lets get on palmer quick!
Is someone honestly trying to sell Jason Bay as a better hitter than Manny Ramirez?
Sometimes, there are “fights” worth having on here.
Other times, the premises are so stupid, a response isn’t even worth the trouble.
This is one of those instances.
What the heck is going on with MLB.TV today. Only a problem with the Yankees game.
Right, SJ. You see, something that’s been on my mind is a trade of disappointments, so to speak.
The Nats need bullpen help desperately. They also recently sent down Milledge, someone who they had hopes for, and gave the CF job to Dukes, I think. This is a deal I might be interested in, because if Milledge gets it going, he can provide something the Yanks need, now and next year. And as you said, Veras will not be missed. A deal like that could be made, and you never know.
Just a thought.
GreenBeret7
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
“I’m so embarrassed. Look at all of the empty seats.”
me too GB I’m beat red. I’ll never live this down.
“Is someone honestly trying to sell Jason Bay as a better hitter than Manny Ramirez?
Sometimes, there are “fights” worth having on here.
Other times, the premises are so stupid, a response isn’t even worth the trouble.
This is one of those instances.”
But Bay is so much better than Manny. Hes so good, that he got Ortiz intimidated enough to suck
CC has great movement today…Curve ball will be the pitch today
Damn!!! Last thing they need is Jeter getting hurt.
Angels not liking that were actually beating them?
“Its pretty hard to expect AL pitchers to go 7 strong all the time. You have to have guys you can count on in the pen.”
SJ,
What you say is very true. The bull pen must perform better. There’s no doubt.
But on the flip side I do think the best way to improve the pen is for the starters to give them more innings.
To me those two things are completely interconnected.
And this team was built to win on starting pitching. If the starters don’t carry this team they are simply not going to win.
That said there is no doubt the yankees pen must be better – and I think it will be.
If you’re talking about the long term problem being the last 2 guys in the pen – how many teams have good pitchers 11 and 12?
It’s those guys who shouldn’t be pitching much if the starters are giving them innings.
There will be changes. They have the depth to figure it out.
Lead off hbp kill.
well i guess this guy is wild :p
Come on Damon, dont give this guy outs
SJ,
I know. It’s ridiculous.
I really shouldn’t have even bothered to fish up that stat.
Jeter HBP ? sigh
Come on Damon.
Uncle Ellsworth
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
GreenBeret7
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
“I’m so embarrassed. Look at all of the empty seats.”
me too GB I’m beat red. I’ll never live this down.
————————————————————
LMAO. Yeah, I just figured that if I put that up now, nobody would feel the need to keep posting that tiresome BS.
Joe,
They would seem like logical trade partners.
Now that Bowden is gone, Mike Rizzo is probably easier to work with in trade discussions.
Its certainly worth a phone call.
That looked ugly all around
Ouch
And this is why you don’t dfa Berroa.
people getting hurt early and often in this game…
Aybar looks like me on a typical Friday night…stumbling, a little lost, hang-over bound.
Ouch – Jeter’s stretching his neck and the Angels 2nd baseman is leaving the game – hope they’re both ok
CB,
Definitely agree about the starting pitching.
The tough part is, the Yankees are essentially putting two rookies, Coke and Melancon in key roles. That’s a lot to put on young guys.
It would be nice if Marte showed up this season. That would make it easier.
Overall though, you are correct. The starters and bullpen definitely are interconnected.
Geez, this game is starting out like a football game so far. Bodies dropping all over the field.
Ortiz is clearly going downhill and aging – - – fast.
http://www.boston.com/sports/c....._papi.html
Greetings from the game. just witnessed the collison, it doesn’t look pretty. Ouch.
MaineYankee -
NOOOOO! I absolutely wasn’t referring to you! I was going back to the discussions from before where others here were being pretty hostile and beligerent in the way they responded to those of us who voiced our opinion. They were being personally nasty. I definitely didn’t mean you.
I totally understand that if you put an opinion out there it’s fair game. Of course. It’s about those who were just rude and obnoxious in their responses that I was referring.
Just got in and have no television broadcast so am going to get some audio.
GO YANKEES!
Matsui! lets go!
this offense really is clicking…
Okay, I know this is a 30 yr. old rookie on the mound, but nice hitting by Matsui!
Matsui continues to be hot
The seat watching committee has to be happy today….That should save about 100 postings…..The pieces are coming together ( offensively at least )
Cmon Melky make it 3-0, give CC some breathing room
Matsui!!!!!
“It would be nice if Marte showed up this season. That would make it easier.”
In all honesty – the bull pen’s woes are really primarily on Marte.
Veras and Ramirez have been bad. But they are Veras and Ramirez and how high can expectations be? If they are slightly above average you’re happy.
Marte is the guy who has been an enormous disappointment – especially with Bruney going down.
Marte is a guy who should be an effective set up guy. He shouldn’t only be a LOOGY.
Why is Marte not in the game last night with the bases loaded? Why does it fall on a rookie like Melancon?
Marte is the guy who has a lot to answer for.
Robi, Robi Robi. TAKE.A.PITCH.
lol cano got robbed of an at bat
matsui is fkn HOT.
Come on we need to do better than that.
Melky wanted to be like brother Robbie so he decided to ground out
Now I’m totally confused. I have it on mlb.com television, YES broadcast! But on YES on satellite I’m blacked out????? Maybe it’s on ExtraInnings on regular television. I’m gonna check!
I hope Jeter is ok. They really let the pitcher off easily there…
Pat M,
The seat thing is so old already. Last night’s espn recap of the game had a single sentence paragraph about how only 15 of the 50 “cushioned” seats between the two dugouts was occupied.
They didn’t have anything else to talk about?
Not on ExtraInnings…they can’t show any Sat afternoon games due to Fox. It sucks.
When Melky is batting 6th you know the lineup is short. Hopefully Swish doesn’t need more then another day or so. They need him for the Sox series.
hopefully jeter doesn’t have a lingering injury thats gonna kill his offensive ability now
Trisha,
YES cannot be shown outside of the NYC market on Saturday afternoon day games because FOX has blackout rights under their contract with MLB for Saturday day games.
In essence, Fox owns the market from noon to 7 pm on Saturday’s.
Adam Jones is just RAKING this year
I go to the bathroom and Jeter gets hurt. Remind me to hold it in during Yankee at-bats next time.
It’d be nice to not have to reach for fourth-stringers on the left side of our infield before A-Rod returns.
We’re going to hit this career minor-leaguer hard today.
CB,
Exactly. Its pretty telling that Girardi has more confidence in a kid who was in AAA a week ago than in a guy they gave 12 million to in the off-season.
Kind of scary, actually.
Pat M
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
The seat watching committee has to be happy today….That should save about 100 postings…..The pieces are coming together ( offensively at least )
————————————————————
Yeah, just think of all the electricity saved and the brain waves not damaged now. They can now do something more constructive…like sticking their heads in an oven.
I hate to insult our team, but the Yankees are currently the worst run franchise. We have Michael Kay as the face of the Yankees, rather than firing him, and we continue to allow our Saturday games at 1pm so the fans that have Directv cant watch them. The Red Sox always get their Saturday games at 7pm
Man, CC is walking a lot of guys this year.
I don’t remember him having this much trouble with control in his other stops.
Its really what has cost him in his starts so far.
Walks are a killer.
dp would be nice here.
CC still needs to find his fastball command. Either its not a strike or over the plate.
good questions about Marte. He is a guy with a track record of success. Obviously, something is not as it should be. I know Dave Eiland has a lot on his plate, but this should be a big thing to work on. If Marte gets right, a lot of problems go away.
dammit C.C.
at least they know melky has a gun
CC getting hit hard
Another fastball over the plate…I don’t know what his problems were in all of his April starts with the Indians. But the fastball command and location is very bad.
Awwww. Nobody runs on DA MELK’S arm.
I love it.
phew thank god
If any out-of-market folks want a live feed with Mandarin Chinese broadcasters, let me know.
Way to battle.
i do nick
good job by cc to battle out of that jam..
“CC getting hit hard”
Thats a little bit drastic. 2 half liners in front of Gardner and Melky and hes getting hit hard?
alright we got out of it
The Red Sox don’t set the schedule. MLB sets the schedule.
The teams argue with some times and dates from time to time but, MLB sets the schedule.
Good job by CC working into and out of trouble.
The Angels are a tough match up for him because they have a lot of guys that make contact in the lineup. That makes innings a lot of work and pitch counts rise.
Gotta score a lot today to take the game out of the hands of the bullpen. That has to be the team motto for the day.
Good job. Now they have to smack around this pitcher…
RGR,
please dont say he’s getting hit hard if he’s not. i get this sick feeling in my stomach thinking he’s getting ripped.
How dare CC get into a jam. He’s supposed to throw perfect 1-2-3 innings every time.
Let’s send Palmer back to the Eastern league now.
http://www.justin.tv/nba5a
lol – Molina squaring to bunt.
if melky wasn’t playing LF it would have been a 1-1 game.Good job by cc.let’s get some runs!
molina
pena
gardner
good job to get outta trouble. lets get a cushion!
SJ44,
MLB sets the schedule, but I thought that the home teams had the ability to make the starting time decisions. Is that not the case?
LF should be RF
GB, I mentioned ( for the first time ever ) the seating issue just for you ole buddy……Marte I believe will bounce back…He along with Bruney, & Melachon give the club a good firtst tier pen…The second level arms are the concern….Coke may be an answer along with Robertson….Bottom line, the starters need to get into the 7 th on a regular basis…..
Lets go Pena
CC gets squeezed but this rookie gets the close pitches.
Arod update..He played 3rd base for 5 innings today. He felt good.
pena coming down to earth
“Bottom line, the starters need to get into the 7 th on a regular basis…..”
They will start getting deeper in the game as they come into May
0-6 2Ks
Well SJ44, i dont know how accurate that it, but I do know the Boston teams move around their start times to accomodate the other boston teams, like red sox moving start times for celts or bruins playoff games. The Red Sox every year have at most 1 Saturday 1pm game while the Yankees have at least 10.
It cant be the MLB who’s doing it, and if it is, then it only fits my theory that Bud is out to get the Yankees
ARod is 2/18 thus far
Nick What no Cantonese feed- these Mandarin guys are such homers
Wang no hit the pirates in 4 innings, 2 walks 3 Ks, 52 pitches 32 strikes or something like that
Not that I’m a regular or anything, but I’m getting the feeling this evolution guy has nothing useful to say.
“Pena coming down to earth.”
He was 3 for 4 yesterday. Makes an out in his first plate appearance today and he’s “coming down to earth.”
Nice fans this team has. Unreal.
A-Rod and Wang update on the post.
Teams give MLB their desired times. However, for national TV games (FOX and ESPN) MLB allows the networks to pick the games they want. That messes up times and schedules in given situations.
I remember a couple of years ago when the Yankees had a Sunday night, 8 pm game in Boston and then had to go to Detroit for a Monday day game. That was a joke and completely unfair to the Yankees.
That’s the price you pay for being a marquee team. Travel and game times are a little tougher than for most of the other teams in the league.
carl, no surprise, mlb doesnt want cc to succeed with us. Read my previous post.
Pete, it was probably a Red Sox troll saying that. that would be ridiculous. or it was a joke.
Pena, “coming down to earth”?
LOL, that’s pretty funny.
I hope that was a joke post because I can’t believe some seriously believes that off one AB today.
Pete, you can’t take a joke? Its called sarcasm and having fun
On the bright side, if Derek Jeter loses a tooth or two, it might make some supermodels available to some of you. I’ve got dibs on Megan Fox.
Hope the captain’s OK, though.
Wasn’t Gardner saying in ST that he was taking too many pitches last year? He was called out on three pitches yesterday and then that debacle just now. He has got to start zoning a pitch and driving it regardless of the count.
wonder if Swish is available for pinch hitting later
lets go big C.C.
I’m trying to find a Hakkanese feed, Uncle Ellsworth, but as you know that’s easier said than done. But I like the Mandarin feed. Their phrase for “Posada Truthers” cracks me up; did you hear them talking about it when Molina was up?
Pete,
If you get a chance, could you use your trusty i-phone camera to take a picture of the radio booth and post it on the blog?
I’m asking because listening to the broadcast, John Sterling is either blind or he has a bad broadcast booth because he is behind every single pitch.
Nick-
Thnx for the link for the live feed, are there games online all season long?
Evolution,
Pete’s quick to insult Yanks fans, Im not sure why, but he very well could be a Red Sox fan. I dont ever hear REd Sox being insulted, not even David Juice Ortiz.
Please start throwing strikes CC. We need you to go more then 5 today.
Didn’t realize Jeter was still in the game. Good.
BTW I found 2 Legends seats on Stub Hub last night for today’s game for $95 a piece….of course being in Michigan it is impossible to act on….see what you get for being married….
DocBooch, gardner is awesome at striking out while looking
That change up is deadly.
Pat M
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
GB, I mentioned ( for the first time ever ) the seating issue just for you ole buddy……Marte I believe will bounce back…He along with Bruney, & Melachon give the club a good firtst tier pen…The second level arms are the concern….Coke may be an answer along with Robertson….Bottom line, the starters need to get into the 7 th on a regular basis…..
————————————————————
Yeah, I know PaT. That was for all of those embarrassed souls that are sitting around their monitors with bags over their heads…too ashamed to show their faces.
CC is looking pretty tough so far. Good command.
Pete like many other people, think the woe is me, ZOMG111!! every time someone makes an out or gives up a hit, fools that scream that they are awful, or coming back to earth are just that….idiots.
Buddy,
WHere is the link Nick provided?
Squeezin him man! that’s at the Knees.
fraking cheesy umps
MELKMANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Melk Man!
Nice catch by Melky!
That’s my boy. Good thing I didn’t tear up my Melky shirt like I threatened to.
Leche! He’s the deal this season. Good for him!
man i’m in love with melky this year. Looks like he woke up
who cares about the 2/18..he will be fine
DA MELK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*MY* DA MELK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.justin.tv/nba5a
wow, im not surprise, theyre cheating cc but not whatever palmers name is.
Nick I did hear that, they are funny but I find their analysis lacking.
these toyota text polls are such garbage.
Great catch by Melky!
Someone tell Sterling the Yankees lead 1-0. He still thinks its scoreless. lol
Nick, you are the man! Mucho gracias.
Leche plays some great defense, another reason to keep him in the bigs even if it’s in a utility role
It just is amazing how the Angels just pluck unknown pitchers from their system when needed and they all give solid outings….They’ll have Lackey, Santana & Escabar by mid-May….They may have a pop-gun approach, even with Vaddy out, but they’re a tough team….Great Organization
MELK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“But on the flip side I do think the best way to improve the pen is for the starters to give them more innings.
To me those two things are completely interconnected.”
Yes indeedy. I know I would be a heck of a lot more convinced if the starters went deep consistenly but the bullpen continued to implode.
SJ, here’s what I don’t get – and believe me I’m not complaining! I know about the Saturday blackout rules, but then why am I able to get it on MLB.com tv? I figured I’d be blacked out totally.
ooooooh jeter that was too close to take
I wonder if Sterling sips on whiskey during his broadcasts like Major League
of course its a fair ball its a yankee batting
how is that a fair ball
in what world? what garbage
God this umpires suck man
this = these.
“Vince
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Ortiz is clearly going downhill and aging – – – fast.
http://www.boston.com/sports/c....._papi.html
”
yeah he’s probably done, the only hits he’s been able to get is at Fenway where he can slap it 310ft for a cheap double but he can’t do that anywhere else, his bat speed has really slowed
damn damon scorched that one…
Who is that i spy on the mound? Cy Palmer folks.
Teixeira hasn’t centered a ball in weeks. Must be incredibly frustrating…
i just used that feed. we get cheated first and a pretty nice catch 2nd. off goes the feed!
I wish that Jim Palmer had waited until after this series to come out of retirement.
Trisha,
The blackout terms MLB gives the network excludes their internet deals. That’s why you are able to get it online but not on DirecTV or via the Extra Innings package.
Girardi, please make a bit more of an argument next time you walk onto the field.
It’s like he walks out and says “I respectfully disagree with you” and walks back in. How bout a fight. You want your players to show heart, show that you actually care that a bad call was made. Ask the homeplate umpire for something. Put up some sort statement. Anything but that.
We are getting bent over by the umps today. Between the CC getting squeezed and the first base ump, Girardi needs to get tossed.
Offense is not putting together good at bats against a horrible pitcher. CC needs to keep them scoreless. And Tex desperately needs to get a hit sometime this month.
throw the red flag girardi!!!!
tampa yank,
Ortiz appears to be off the juice.
Pete
Do you think you might be able to ask some questions during the upcoming series with the red sox about Ortiz’ struggles?
Buddy: that’s the first time I’ve watched on there, but I’m guessing that there are live feeds from various sources for just about every game. I just found this one by hunting around a little on the justin.tv page and looking in the baseball section. Someone in their chat room gave the link. There’s another link to a feed with the YES announcers on tvpc.com if you want it, but it buffered too much to be of use to me (I have a slow connection right now, I’m housesitting in Marin).
“I wonder if Sterling sips on whiskey during his broadcasts like Major League”
>you betcha.
CC is having a little trouble again today with spotting his fastball (doesn’t help that he’s getting squeezed). But his off speed stuff has been outstanding.
Teams control their start times UNLESS MLB moves it for TV. The Yanks absolutely could have played this game at night, but even though I’m in Florida I like day games on weekends for the kids. I jsut don’t understand blacking out MLB Extra innings for 1:00 games when it is in essence a PPV service.
Sometimes I think Pete went to the Hannity school of analysis. Find the most extreme, absurd comment you can and then paint the entire group with the same brush. Weak.
Hell yeah hurt em cc.
napoli just owns us..
Retaliation’s fine, but in a 1-run game?
M cc can do that.
most yankees players are probably happy but posada is probably going to lecture everyone
Ah! Thanks SJ.
About the Sox temporarily imploding. It’s called the curse of the series loser. If you chart these Yankees-Sox series, especially at the beginning of the year, it appears that the winning team always goes into a tailspin!
LOL @ Posada lecturing everyone.
Classy move by CC. I would’ve drilled him too.
PENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Michael Kay: “…and no one took a step towards the mound.”
maybe the fact the CC is 6’7″ 300+ lbs has something to do w/that.
Pena stays.
gj pena
PENA!
Pena flashing the leather again!
Yup, He’s “coming down to earth”.. lol
cc yelled El Nino!
hardwired May 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Michael Kay: ”…and no one took a step towards the mound.”
maybe the fact the CC is 6’7” 300+ lbs has something to do w/that.
lmao
It appears as though Pena is back on top of his game! lol.
rofl
>maybe the fact the CC is 6’7” 300+ lbs has something to do w/that.
CC is the equalizer.
gold glove sabathia
CC catlike reflexes.
Fabulous play by Pena.
Penne, Penne, Penne!
For such a huge man, CC has remarkable balance….Watch when he lifts, he’s perfectly straight before he strides to the plate….Great mechanics…..
i’m sure the yankee players were dreading that walk to the dugout, father posada is waiting to spank each one.
CC is keeping them off balance and getting a lot of swings and misses – very good signs. Watch out AL East!
CC, senor!!!!!
Pat M,
that’s what she said
Angel Berroa? Ha! Please. The kid is here to stay.
But Berroa’s at the top of his game! Granted that isn’t exactly a skyscraper.
This is the Kay-tastic link:
http://www.tvpc.com/LiveSport.php?SportID=296
Pat M,
Agreed. He’s a great athlete. You can tell he’s light on his feet and his mechanics are really tight for a big guy.
Its probably why he can throw so many pitches and maintain velocity and command.
A very, very good athlete for such a large man.
Ortiz isn’t off the juice. He’s just a poster boy on why man cannot live on arroz con gandules alone.
Kay sucks up to O’Neill so bad it’s sickening. I’ve never heard someone try so hard to get someone to like them.
Cano doesn’t want to swing lol
I really don’t understand how its 1-0.
matt palmer is owning us
1 hitting us.
Matt Palmer. Have to say I didn’t see this one coming. Then again, he’s another pitcher the Yankees haven’t seen before.
On behalf of the New York Yankees, I apologize for our leading 1-0.
CC repeats his mechanics as well as any pitcher in the game. You can only do that if you are an excellet athlete. CC most definitely is that.
Pena better stay on this roster when Alex comes back. Not only is he more valuable than either Ransom or Berroa but if they put him on the 40 roster they better use him. Otherwise their 25 man roster issues will only get worse.
got Wood?
Yanks let Palmer get into Cy Young form, good job guys.
Al, whats new?
No name crap pitchers just dominate us.
On another note, Cano is
BTW- if anyone is interested, I have another appointment with Dr. Stuart Hershon next week. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to pass them along.
SJ, I think that’s why he throws so effertlessly…..Palmer is tossing a great game for a nobody….
SJ44
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Pat M,
Agreed. He’s a great athlete. You can tell he’s light on his feet and his mechanics are really tight for a big guy.
Its probably why he can throw so many pitches and maintain velocity and command.
A very, very good athlete for such a large man.
————————————————————
He’s the Jackie Gleason of pitchers.
For those that don’t understand that, for a big, heavy guy, Gleason was an incredible dancer and moved with total grace and ease.
Ludacris.
Nick-
The tvpc.com link didn’t load up for me either. I use Firefox & didn’t feel like dealing with IE, though it prolly would have worked better.
micheal kay ruins broadcasts
Why do the Yankees, or their childish fans, have to apologize for being ahead 1-0?
They aren’t going to score a ton of runs every night.
Go back and look at some of the nights, and some of the pitchers, that had good games against the Dynasty Teams.
You win games every different way. Sometimes, you have to win 1-00, 2-1, 3-2 etc.
They are ahead. That should count for something.
Every inning that goes by with them ahead, they get closer to Mariano.
Stop whining and appreciate the fact they are ahead in the game.
GB7, Who’s Jackie Gleason ??????.Oh Ralph Kramden
The YES broadcast is cringe inducing.
evolution,
michael kay only cares about michael kay. he loves to hear himself talk and thinks he is the only thing that matters, he thinks its Michael Kay on YES, not Yankees Baseball on Yes.
The ONLY time I am ever jealous of Mets fans is when the topic of announcers comes up. They are so fortunate over there to not have to suffer the likes of Sterling, Waldman and Michael Kay.
SJ44, maybe because we’re facing a 30 year old no namer rookie
I hate the mets guy. “And its OUTTAaaAAAAaAaaAa heeeere!!”
CC @ 80 pitches
Buddy: the murky underworld of pirated baseball feeds can be difficult to navigate. I’m glad this doesn’t come up too often.
Well, SJ44
Im not watcihng the game, i agree sometimes you’re not going to get alot of runs. What I hope were not doing is throwing away atbats. I hate when we take off several atbats a game. I enjoy when we value atbats like the last 2 innings of yesterday’s game.
mets broadcasting luls me to sleep
I think Gary Cohen is the by far the best play-by-play guy in NY
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
micheal kay ruins broadcasts
=====
A perquisite of trying to watch the Penguins and Yanks at the same time, enduring small screen/big screen swapping schizophrenia. Unpleasant, is I am spared the shrill Mr. Kay.
Unfortunately, I’m watching both games poorly.
12 in a row…
Man this is sad.
Wow, what appears to be a lovely and CROWDED YSLP!!!
Pat M
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
GB7, Who’s Jackie Gleason ??????.Oh Ralph Kramden
————————————————————
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Texas.
Pena is going to develop into a competent infielder. Give him time. What he needs now is to stay in the bigs and face the better competition.
pena has a really good idea of the strike zone, crazy for his age
So what, stop crying.
You think the Angels are happy they couldn’t blow open the game last night against the career scrubs in the Yankee bullpen?
They are ahead by a run in the 5th inning. That’s not a bad thing.
They are playing with half a lineup today. They are an older team coming off a draining night game followed by a day game.
They have Molina in the game for Posada (less offense).
If you expected an offensive juggernaut, perhaps your expecations were too high.
are we valuing atbats or throwing them away.
Whats going on?
SJ – I actually was being sarcastic with my “apology.” I actually agree with you 100%. We’re winning. Be happy.
I would like to fall back on the “never seen him before and that’s why we’re not hitting” thingy but it hasn’t played out that way this season.
Hey we’ll get to him and them, hopefully well before they get to us!
This isn’t football or basketball. You just don’t overpower the other team or other pitcher.
Remember, a .300 hitter is someone who doesn’t get a hit 70% of the time.
It must be so hard to watch baseball and expect your team to score 10 runs every game. lots of dissapointment…
It’s been fun spending the afternoon reading with all of you, everyone. Enjoy the rest of the game.
Molina + Garner + Pena + Melky in the lineup is going to = a struggle to score runs more often than not. Help is on the way.
14 in a row lol
14 in a row
thats nothing to be happy about, winning or losing. If we were facing Roy Halladay up 1-0 i’d be ecstatic, but this guy isn’t even close
2-3-4 runs would be nice against an AAA pitcher.
seriously, we are making this guy look like the ace of the staff, one hit by a 30 year old rookie?
“They have Molina in the game for Posada (less offense).”
And therein lies an unequivocal trade off.
matt palmer leaving meatballs over the middle and they can’t take advantage of it?
please don’t let the headlines be “ROOKIE PALMER OUTDUELS SABATHIA”.
I am thinking of checking out beautiful Flatbush Gardens. Do you think they give you a gun with every rental?
This kid ( 25 years old ) Palmer must have watched David Cone growing up, because he throws from many different arm angles….He’ll never make it thru the batting order next time around…..
if the red sox face a 30 year old rookie, he’s getting shilacked, at least 3 runs through 6 innings.
Didn’t ya see Pena have a stern talking to his bat in the dugout. He gets a hit next time up.
wat the heck, jeter barely moved to that ball
Harry ‘N Skeeter
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
if the red sox face a 30 year old rookie, he’s getting shilacked, at least 3 runs through 6 innings.
_____________________________
so please go be a sox fan and do us a favor
This guy is the bastard test tube child of Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer, conceived in a sinister USC laboratory. No wonder he’s cruising against us, he’s a horror of science.
Goes to show that ex-athletes are as idiotic as sportswriters.
Valarmov makes a reach-back, along-the-ice, fish-the-puck out-before -it -crosses-the goal line, heart-stopping save on Crosby, and Ed Olczyk is annointing it a series changer.
In Game 1.
Lol.
When u watch pena, it makes me think why he wasn’t playing over ransom from the beginning?
When u watch pena, it makes me think why he wasn’t playing over ransom from the beginning?
why the comment Doris. Id love to be a Sox fan and get handed everything by the umpires, leagues, notably the Angels, but I cant turn to the real dark side.
can’t wait for the bulls game tonight
Nick in SF
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Molina + Garner + Pena + Melky in the lineup is going to = a struggle to score runs more often than not. Help is on the way.
===================
They’ll save some runs too.
good job jeter.
jesus jeter
just what we needed…
come on jeter.
rough inning for Jeter so far.
1st error in 24 games and countless chances.
let the Jeter Haters start it up!
Probably neck is bothering him.
jeter has actually been pretty good defensively this year
jeter has actually been pretty good defensively this year
Good job by Tex to save the extra base error.
This is why we need more runs.
Doris from Rego Park
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
jesus jeter
======
he’ll save some souls
lol torii
great camera work YES, show us kendry morales’ underlip hair while this is going on
Agreed, bodhi, but would you play that lineup over a lineup with Arod, Posada, Swisher, and Melky or Gardner or Outfielder X more than one game out of four?
that was bizarre.
“jeter has actually been pretty good defensively this year”
Game on the line, I want the ball hit to Jeter – just not too far to his left
Dang. Ball boy strikes again.
so hows that 1-0 lead looking now?
And as broadcasters are wont to say, Jeter’s error looms large at this point – or might…
And as broadcasters are wont to say, Jeter’s error looms large at this point – or might…
CC needs to hunker down and prove why he’s the ace.
lets hope we can actually get some hits on Cy Palmer next time around
lets just get this 3rd out and leave it at 1-1
>so hows that 1-0 lead looking now?
it’s looking tied up
i’m assuming that was an unearned run because of jeter’s error?
Seriously, How do you defend the yankees getting 1 hit by a triple a pitcher?
Does
let’s just keep the game tied and we’re still right in it.
Darn, how big is that Jeter error?
And as broadcasters are wont to say, Jeter’s error looms large at this point – or might…”
Haha there it is.
I dont get what happened, the ump never called time and CC looked like he was ready to pitch when hunter took off.
Not to mention we might have to go to the shut down bullpen.
They just said it trish. LOL
CC is leaving everything up. Looks terrible.
Boy i’m so happy we sat down 14 in a row against a 30 year old rookie
it would be horrible for Sabathia to get an L again if he keeps them at 3 runs or less; cmon offense
Geez, can we get the 10 year old crybabies off this blog today?
Isn’t there traffic you can play in?
Its a 1-1 game.
If the Yankees can’t win low scoring games, guess what? They aren’t going anywhere this year and you can save your crying for next year.
Stop acting like they are down by 10 runs. Its annoying and its stupid.
Sterling has no idea what the count is! lol Geez, he’s been awful today. He has no idea what’s going on in the game today.
>Darn, how big is that Jeter error?
the inning would be over, angels wouldn’t be able to double steal, and we’d still have the lead.
We Cant Get One Call our way today…. these umps have it out for the yanks today for some reason.
is it still 1-1
At least we’re not behind.
Let’s go.
Well it looks like we’re headed to a battle of the bullpens. Is Marte’ still on double secret probation? He hasn’t pitched all week… neither has Robertson… yeah, definitely need 13 pitchers.
>is it still 1-1
yes. inning over.
Sabathia has been out-pitched by Matt Palmer so far. Hopefully the offense changes that this inning…
I want to thank the commenters who make this place extremely worthwhile.
For the ones who try too hard to be funny…or whose sarcasm falls horrifically flat, reread your post before hitting ‘submit comment.’ Ask yourself a few questions: Does it work? Will I amuse? Am I just trying to stir it up or am I actually saying something? How can I inspire? Did I take my meds this morning? (The last one is for you, EvoLuTion.)
I know I’m supposed to ignore, but I can’t help it.
.
This is a great game, by the way – try enjoying.
Team needs to get C.C. some runs, time to mount a rally
Nick in SF
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Agreed, bodhi, but would you play that lineup over a lineup with Arod, Posada, Swisher, and Melky or Gardner or Outfielder X more than one game out of four?
==================
Of course not. I’ll take Alex, Po, Swish – and I don’t regard Melky and Gardner as interchangeable, so I’ll take Melky.
My point was, they have their virtues. Even though Gardner gets questionable jumps, it’s nice to see his range and youth, coupled with Melky’s, in 2/3rds of the OF.
Beats watching Sheffield and the Geriatric Ward chasing balls all day into the gap while teams merrily run around the bases.
SJ44, what are you talking about. There is absolutely no reason to be tied 1-1 in the 6th against this pitcher. You need to stop acting so proud.
Can’t win low scoring games? guess what, this game should be no where NEAR low scoring, at minimum 2-3 runs against palmer by now. We aren’t facing a 15+ game winner here.
guys lets come down a little bit…they have averaged 9 runs the past 4 games…stuff like this happens once in a while…they still got plenty of time to get this
How was there a double steal with Molina catching?
Does not compute.
CC @ 99
Need to get something going offensively
Top of the order, especially Jeter, needs to pick up C.C.
He’s battling hard.
Stop,
love the hate
Guess what, i’ll speak my mind freely. We have 1 hit against this guy
m
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
At least we’re not behind.
=====
I’ll take my chances tied at home.
There really isn’t any excuse for the offense to have one hit against a 30 year old scrub rookie. Top of the order…gotta get it going here…
“The Yankees should keep him around when A-Rod comes back for a lot of reasons: He can play 3B when A-Rod needs a day off. He can run. He can play SS and 2B and he’s got a decent bat. Interesting young player.”
Lets add one more reason, you have made it your mission to run A-Rod out of town.
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
SJ44, what are you talking about. There is absolutely no reason to be tied 1-1 in the 6th against this pitcher. You need to stop acting so proud.
Can’t win low scoring games?
======
Who’s saying we can’t win it?
lets go jeter, need ya on base
Sure there is a reason why the game is tied. It happens. Its BASEBALL!! Do you ever watch it?
You are so emotional and whine so much, you really don’t have any idea what you are talking about.
Anybody, ANY TEAM, can get shut down for one day by ANYBODY. That’s how it goes.
You work through it and try to win the game.
BTW, its 1-1. They didn’t lose.
So, deal with it.
If the players cried as much as you do over everything, they wouldn’t be able to ever play the game.
bodhisattva, read SJ44′s comment i was just responding to him
Dr. Cox and Benny -
attaboy jeter, epic double. LETS GO OFFENSEEEEEEEEEE
Atta boy Jeter. Make up for that error.
this is the inning Tex breaks out, he’s typing the Tex message as we speak
Bodhi: accepting their limitations doesn’t mean not recognizing their virtues. Their was some whining about lack of offensive production; it shouldn’t be that hard to discern the reason.
I’m rooting for one of those four mentioned players to drive in the GWRBI, in case there’s any doubt. I like all the Yankees.
Double for Derek
Didn’t get a chance to post this yesterday…
Go Yankees ~ Beat the Halos!!!
(although the Yanks managed to do fine without my cheer, thanks in large part to that “heavenly halo pen” that is last in the majors in ERA
Cy Palmer thank you for allowing us to get a double.
into monument cave
Derek Jeter. You knew he’d atone.
Well, actually, I’d rather see Tex drove in the GWRBI, we need him to get going more than the others.
Jeter, redeption…..I just don’t understand why people here cannot appreciate a great pitched ballgame…..
damn only 78 pitches for palmer
Jeter redeeming himself…way to go cap.
Damon should be bunting here, no excuses
lets go Tex, no pressure but this run is very important
Nice pitched ballgame. CC vs….Palmer!??!?!
AAA pitcher and Jeter can’t even hit a homer. That’s unacceptable. A lousy bouncer over the wall. What a wuss. We’ll never win, what a terrible job.
This is the Whiner’s Anonymous meeting right?
Am I in the wrong place?
oh my god………………
I’d welcome one of those warning track HR right about now.
OH WOW
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
bodhisattva, read SJ44’s comment i was just responding to him
====
Sorry to take you out of context, Ev. I am guilty of reading posts at face value w/out the backup history, as I’m watching hockey at the same time and the Caps have just scored which is not good, not good at all.
fare well.
And Captain Intangibles responded to his “my bad” by rapping the ball! Good for him.
No ER and only 4 hits for CC in 6 innings! I’l have to check the “Elias Bureau” to see if this is the first time he’s done that this season…
I was just about to say you just have to plate this run.
that was bad…
Tex stinks
Waldmyn just made an interesting comment…
Because of Tex’s wrist, Tex hasnt been able to take any BP since Tampa….
That’s bad situational hitting right there. Got to get the run across in that situation.
Up to Matsui now.
theres so many extremists on this board
“We won’t score 10 runs every game” Who is asking for 10 runs?
“AAA pitcher and Jeter can’t even hit a homer. That’s unacceptable. A lousy bouncer over the wall. What a wuss. We’ll never win, what a terrible job.” Do i even need to explain here?
Poor Matsui is stuck doing all the work
omg stop whining about tex
“This is the Whiner’s Anonymous meeting right?
Am I in the wrong place?”
no, you’re in the LOHUD LOONEY BIN, but Whiner’s Anonymous is right next door.
great job by tex apparently.
I have faith in Godzilla
I said it from the second Tex started struggling this year… Tex was going to be garbage until A-Rod got back…
Nick in SF
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Bodhi: accepting their limitations doesn’t mean not recognizing their virtues. Their was some whining about lack of offensive production; it shouldn’t be that hard to discern the reason.
I’m rooting for one of those four mentioned players to drive in the GWRBI, in case there’s any doubt. I like all the Yankees.
=========================
Me too, even rooted for Krazy Kyle, though I feared him. Hearing Bob Sheppard call out Paul Quantrill’s name never did much for me, either.
Keep the Yanks clean. My Penguins clearly can’t be trusted on their own.
paging Juan Miranda.
joking. joking.
If Tex is still hurt, he shouldn’t be in the field. End of story. I’d rather a healthy Miranda hitting than an injured Tex.
that was a pretty filthy curve
i dont think i am an extremist when there are no more excuses for tex if he cant get score important runs like that, if he did that maybe he can be forgiven for his sub 200 batting average
wow that really happened.
Sigh.
No words
Tex made out like a bandit.
Love the always classy Yankee fans….booing in a tie game….
Wheres Ron Burgandy when you need him…
Embarrassing. Though I’m not mad at Matsui he has done plenty lately. Tex has got to at least hit a sac fly in that situation.
Why must this team frustrate me so? Seriously. I absolutely cannot fathom why, year in and year out, this stuff stays exactly the same. You put on the pinstripes, and you a.) can’t drive in runners in scoring position on any kind of consistent basis and b.) you get two hit by a AAA pitcher with a 6.00 ERA. I simply cannot figure this team out.
if the extremists on here who allow no criticism of the team will allow, i’d like to point out that it truly is amazing and alarming how frequently this team fails to score leadoff doubles.
i can undertand being angry at this, but there’s no need to boo.
“omg stop whining about tex”
He is hitting .184. People have EVERY right to complain about how pathetic he has been. Nobody is writing him off for the
I wonder if Teixeira will get a Mo-like standing ovation next time they’re at Fenway?
I said it from the second Tex started struggling this year… Tex was going to be garbage until A-Rod got back…
—————
He always struggles early. Why should this season be any different?
Because his paychecks are now bigger?
I feel sorry for cc
Nobody is writing him off for the season, but he has been pathetic so far. Absolutely pathetic. People complain about ARod and yet he has NEVER had a month this bad. He would be crucified if he had numbers like this a month into the season. Tex is a headcase.
You mean Juan Miranda, the guy that can’t play first base?
You want him in the lineup over Tex?
Please, go watch Scranton if you want to watch Juan Miranda play first base.
The guy isn’t hitting and still helps the team with his glove.
Geez, I understand folks think everything has to go the way they want all the time but, think a little bit.
Its a 1-1 game in the 7th inning. Just gotta keep plugging along.
They aren’t taking Mark Texieira out of the lineup because he’s not hitting yet.
Wow this is the kind of game that makes you want to throw something. Especially on such a beautiful afternoon sitting inside watching it. Cant believe they squandered Jeter’s double. Teix is almost unwatchable right now. That said, he is getting his walks so the hits will start falling in soon. Right?
Small question – Gameday just says that Tex flied out to CF Hunter. Was it shallow or hard hit and thereby not enough to get Jeter in from third?
TIA
Wood is the future of this team.
So glad Kevin Long Has these guys hitting w/Risp…
I think the wrist has more to do with Tex’s poor start than just being a slow starter. I understand working through it, but I’d like to see him drop in the order until he heats up.
Well here’s the good news. We’re tied, not losing.
I am THRILLED, to this point, for CC. He’s a guy who knows cold that his job is to go out there and give his team a chance to win. He has done that in spades.
I think SJ would agree that there is not a question that CC and Molina are on the same page.
SJ44, his wrist HAS to be bothering him. That is why he needs to be taken out. Not because hes hitting .184
For whatever it’s worth, the Yankees are back to their failed approach that they’ve used consistently since 2001 — not making the pitcher throw strikes and swinging for the fences. That’s too bad. And just when I was hoping it would become fun to watch them again….
“He always struggles early. Why should this season be any different?”
So that gives him a right to absolutely stink? I don’t think so. He deserves to get boo’ed and treated poorly by Yankee fans until he starts producing like he is being paid. You think I can go to my boss and tell him that I usually don’t do a good job during the months of April and May and he won’t care simply because I warned him I don’t work well those months?
man what in the heck
lol
At least, I won’t be tempted to watch them as much and I can do more productive things with my time without feeling like I’m missing anything but being tortured — unless I’m a Yankee hater….
Uh Oh
C.C. has to work out of this jam
Tex is S-T-ruggling right now
Meanwhile, CC’s clearly done, but what are you going to do? You bring in the bullpen now, you might as well just forfeit and concede the game.
Johnny looked like Abreau last night..afraid to come in on that ball
Seriously, you all didn’t see this coming?
Catlike Molina!
So who do they bring in to relieve CC? Melancon again? Or Robertson or Coke?
Uh, what was Johnny doing on that play?
ball game over
What a pleasure this team is to watch — NOT!
That Abreau trap on Swisher was the start of the big inning
Why is someone who is as close to an automatic out as there is in baseball batting third for the Yankees?
“It’s a lot better,” Wang said. “I can stay back longer. Can throw the ball lower.”
Wang struck out three and walked two. The right-hander could make at least two more extended spring starts, with the next one scheduled for Thursday.
“I thought Wang was good,” Rodriguez said. “He was throwing the ball downhill. He’s getting stronger. We’re in the pool getting our work in and already in three or four days his progress has been very good.”
http://www.google.com/hostedne.....QD97U94JO3
here we go C.C.
Strikeout pitcher needs a strikeout
We wonder why this team struggles so much to start the season year in and out and you watch Tex’s at bats and you can see why.
It is very true that Tex is a slow starter and always heats up.
That said – he’s hitting worse this early season than he usually does.
He’s slow to start out – but not this slow.
Now before people say he’s “garbage” or not helping the team they should take a look at how often he’s getting on base. The 9th inning last night was a good example of how he’s contributing by getting on base.
But he’s clearly pressing now. And at least part of that is coming to New York, playing in the AL East where every game means a lot, and playing with that contract.
Each year there’s considerable turn over on the roster. Each year those new players have to get acclimated to NY and to playing for the yankees.
Each year the team starts slowly. Those factors are at least partially causal.
Angel, I would say it was a combination of shallow enough and Torii’s arm. If Damon caught it in the same place you might chance it.
ball game over because its 1st and 2nd with no out????????????????????????? are you insane, what, we cant get out of this like the red sox do 99% of the time.
If this was the Yankees at bat, there’d be no doubt that those two runners would be left for dead out there.
However, with the Yankees in the field, there’s little doubt that a 2 RBI basehit is on the way.
CC needs to step it up and not give up a run here. he’s our ace
Sabathia was out-pitched by a 30 year old rookie today. He has not been terrible but he has been a disappointment so far. He has been dominant in just 1 start. He isn’t being paid to “keep the team in the game.” He is being paid to dominate and win games.
And what a pleasure they are to root for — NOT! They’re back to playing like the idiot, overpaid, inept Goliaths that give Yankee haters everywhere so much pleasure. Pathetic….
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bench tex for a bit & let his wrist heal. Bring Shelly Duncan or Miranda up for a couple of weeks
LETS GO C.C.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, what’s the answer? You want to bench the guy and make the lineup even smaller?
Swisher is hurt. They aren’t going to play Posada at first.
You LIVE WITH IT and wait for him to break out.
Here’s a tip. He’s not going to hit .180 all season.
So, you deal with it and look for other player to pick him up when he’s struggling. Like Jeter has said over and over when discussing the team.
Its Kevin Long’s fault they didn’t hit with RISP? Really?
Did you even think before writing that post or is that just another emotional outburst?
DEFCON 1 alert
Jobamania blame cc not Jeter. I like that.
GREAT JOB
umm it’s 2nd and 3rd.. hello not 1st and 2nd
Jobamania, CC is not the problem today. If the Yankees had 5 runs on the board we would be saying how great CC was battling out there.
Yes, Damon was “afraid” to come in for the ball. Brilliant.
Never mind that he was played over to left center and that the ball was a bloop that fell in closer to the line. He was “afraid.”
Because that’s how Johnny Damon plays. He never dives, or crashes into walls or plays hurt. He’s afraid.
Probably the same genius who said Pena is coming back to earth.
thats so BIGGGG
Are you kidding me? 98?
Carl, good pitchers work around errors.
Nice strikeout there. Now don’t lose focus. One more out.
Tears in my eyes on that one. WOW
come on cc one more
Last night, I said that even if the Yankees lost, the way they were playing had to make you happy. Today, I’ll say the reverse — that even if they win, the way they’re playing makes it really hard to watch, much less enjoy or be hopeful for ‘em — unless you’re a Yankee hater.
Interesting blog.
Sure like how CC looks today. Too bad the offense has left him high and dry. But it is a good sign, back to back performances, this one better than the other day in Detroit.
BOOM CC ONE MORE!!!!! guy has been getting a raw deal all day between the umps and the defense behind him. get dirty with him here big boy.
Shelley’s got 9 HR’s already down in SWB…
one more out c.c.
all the faith in you
hey it says he struck out
“If the Yankees had 5 runs on the board we would be saying how great CC was battling out there.”
No, I wouldn’t. Again, CC is not being paid to “keep the team in the game.” He was brought here to dominate and win games. He has only done that once so far.
Thanks Trisha. I’m reluctant to get all aggravated over words on a screen indicating an out, when I don’t know the situation.
Gameday needs to up its game to “Teixeira out to a stellar catch by CF Hunter” or “Teixeira out to a badly executed hit fly out to CF Hunter” or something, lol.
Jobamania good shortstops get routine outs.
so every player on the angels can bunt and do it well and NO ONE on the yankees can – is there something wrong here? Why can’t we resurrect the body of phil rizzuto and have him teach everyone how to bunt – or smsh girardi in the head with a bat everytime he refuses to bunt in a bunt situation
Teixeira has collected $3.05M from the Yankees so far this season. He should return half the money since the only production the Yankees have gotten is on the field.
How can you be this bad? Makes no sense.
bleh
Cano saved an extra run there
Terrible job. THAT is on CC. Way to let a .250 hitter beat you.
Pete,
There is no shortage of brilliance here. There have been plenty of BRILLIANT comments…
Cano’s range just saved a run.
Is anyone really surprised?
Is anyone really surprised?
Yes, Carl blame a guy who has proven he is a winner (Jeter). Keep ignoring that the unproven guy (CC) has not done ANYTHING so far this season that deserves praise (besides one start against the Royals).
feel better now? BALL GAME OVER!
I guess one good thing is they got Palmer’s pitch count up last inning. Might have a chance to get to the Angels bullpen again, maybe?
C.C. is really dialing it up or YES gun is extremely inaccurate like always
“Terrible job. THAT is on CC. Way to let a .250 hitter beat you.”
Your a disgrace to this blog. You really just blame that on CC? Yeah, hes batting .250 on the season, but do yourself a favor and check his alltime stats against the Yankees
ignorance…
So that gives him a right to absolutely stink? I don’t think so. He deserves to get boo’ed and treated poorly by Yankee fans until he starts producing like he is being paid. You think I can go to my boss and tell him that I usually don’t do a good job during the months of April and May and he won’t care simply because I warned him I don’t work well those months?
————
Here’s what simple-minded fair weather fans like you don’t understand.
Teixeira has always been a slow starter. You knew that when you wanted them to sign the guy and you wanted him anyways.
Well, guess what? That’s the player they got. He’ll turn it around because he always does.
When you sign a free agent, no matter the cost, you buy the entire package – both strengths and weaknesses as well as character and everything else that comes with him.
Giving a player more money will not increase his strengths and eliminate all of his weaknesses. If you think it does, you are living in the Land of Oz.
Fans booing players is idiotic. These are the same people who booed A-Rod mercilessly the season after he won the MVP and went crazy on talk radio when the team started the season 0-2.
Frankly, it’s embarrassing as a Yankee fan that I’m grouped with people who cannot behave as human beings when they don’t get the instant gratification they crave.
It’s pathetic.
was that a solid hit by kendrick…. its blacked out today where i am
calm down ppl, cheer ur effin players god damit
its still only 2-1, we deserve to lose if we can’t muster more than a single run against this absolute crap AAA pitcher
C.C is looking even stronger now!!
Game over.
pathetic
just pathetic
Now you still want to praise Fatso? He stinks. And he has been a disappointment. Keep blaming Jeter for Sabathia being a choker.
it was probably just a perfectly placed ball like they wouldnt get against the red sox.
KO – more well-placed than solid, per se.
forget that, 4-1.
Here come the trolls to blame CC, and say that CC sucks and hasn’t been worth the money.
0-2 count into a 2rbi 2b
Tori hunter hit a good down & in pitch
UPDATE, 2:59 p.m.: Tex pops up to center with a runner on third and one out. The crowd booed him. He is now in a 2-for-26 slump.
That is poor on Yankee fans part. They never give anyone a chance to adjust to NY, become comfortable with playing there.
Giuseppe, how is being a “slow starter” a legitimate excuse? If Tex knows he is a slow starter he should have started getting ready a month earlier. The 180M $ contract should include some accountability.
“Game over.”
Bet you said the same thing last night
is it 2-1 still
Well said, Giuseppe.
Do they still show those commercials on YES? lol
Hoe in the hell did Tori his that pitch….8 iron I guess….
its a shame this game has to turn out like this…cc pitched a dam good game for 90% of it..
Jobamania May 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Now you still want to praise Fatso? He stinks. And he has been a disappointment. Keep blaming Jeter for Sabathia being a choker.
Yankees 2 hit by palmer
the pitch was pretty good, torii golfed that.
The story of today is our craptacular showing on offense against a 30 yr old rookie
Hey Pete. If this is what you were criticizing:
“Angel, I would say it was a combination of shallow enough and Torii’s arm. If Damon caught it in the same place you might chance it.”
I was describing where the ball was caught in center by Hunter and why Jeter didn’t run on the ball. Because of Hunter’s arm as opposed to Damon’s were he playing center.
If it’s something else someone said, then never mind.
cc sabathia: 295 pounds of unremarkability.
Good game, rofl . I’m glad it’s over, didn’t waste much of my saturday. But in other news, we’re a step closer to the mediocre .500 team that we truly are. When halladay pitches toronto wins. Look it up
Did the Bullpen Fairy visit the Angels overnight and give them a whole new staff?
If not, the game isn’t technically over, right?
“Fans booing players is idiotic. These are the same people who booed A-Rod mercilessly the season after he won the MVP and went crazy on talk radio when the team started the season 0-2.”
I never ONCE booed ARod. Unlike you, I am a baseball fan and I understand and appreciate greatness. And unlike you, I’ve been a fan of this team for a long, long time. I’m not a johnny-come-lately fan like you probably are that didn’t even know the team existed until after they won a ton in the 90s. Go away.
It would depend on HOW the Yankees got their five runs. If they got their five runs because they were swinging for the fences and the Angels outfielders were dropping balls and letting balls drop a la Damon, I wouldn’t be thrilled. I might not even be happy they were winning — because their approach today won’t work for a second against Boston. If it thrills you to watch your team swing for the fences and not make the pitcher throw strikes and not play good fundamental baseball, then that might thrill you.
It wouldn’t thrill me. I’d rather see them lose, but play in a way that helps them win it all — or lose enough to finally realize that the only way they can beat the best teams is to have the approach at the plate that they had last night.
every single game. does joe wait for his starting pitcher to give up a run before he takes him out ? thats not the way the manage you idiot
great job CC to help put the game away.
It’s still not over, but still a great job by Chocolate Chunk to keep us as close as possible.
i understand how awful the bullpen has been. and i understand CC is getting paid to pitch deep. but this is not the first time this season CC has gotten into trouble as the pitch count has gotten up into the 110-120 mode.
Unfortunately, today is yet another example of what a bad bullpen does for you.
CC is at around 120 pitches and Girardi is pushing the envelope because he has zero confidence in anybody out there.
Consequently, one big hit and the game gets put in a bad spot.
They have to fix the bullpen. If the manager has no confidence in the bullpen, he goes too long with starters and its a domino effect that hurts the entire team.
He did it last night and got lucky.
Today? The luck may run out.
Either way, they need to find dependable arms and fast or spending 210 million on this roster is a colossal waste of time.
CC deserved better in this one. He pitched well. He just stayed in the game too long.
“Now you still want to praise Fatso? He stinks. And he has been a disappointment. Keep blaming Jeter for Sabathia being a choker.”
No, you blame the offense who cant hit a guy who is only making his 2nd ML start at the age of 30. Blaming CC for anything today is completely ignorant. Did you expect CC to throw 35 perfect games this season just because of the money hes making?
johnny looks like Abreu out there this season…last year he was good in left field….now???
Come on Yankees pick up CC’s great effort!
game
just what we need….
5-1
6.2ip 4ER for C.C.
thanks hardwired….. meanwhile 3 more two out runs for the angels this series…. why are all our big money players choking right now…. A-Rod please break this trend when you get back
Carl, Sabathia gave up 5 runs. That is unacceptable. His ERA and WHIP are pathetic. He has been an utter disappointment.
Yes, the offense was pathetic today. But Sabathia is a joke.
I hate everyone on this team. Jeter is rotten. Damon can’t field or throw. Girardi thinks CC can pitch 120 pitches every outing. Nobody can throw strikes.
Why do I even watch this team April-June?
and while i will not be critical of cc, i will say this. albaladejo, veras, and ramirez are awful.
Jeter did blow an easy throw though. Face it, he isn’t a good SS. (fielding wise)
It has NOTHING to do with CC. It’s a TEAM problem, not a pitcher problem.
too little too late
game should STILL be in our reach against this AAA pitcher and the worst bullpen in the majors
Donnie
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Here come the trolls to blame CC, and say that CC sucks and hasn’t been worth the money.
If they do, they are missing some really good baseball and the larger point, CC has received NO offensive support in his last two starts. So for all the money, he is earning it by carrying this team and keeping them close. Just can’t keep running him out there with a 1 hit margin of error that he has been given in his last two starts. If the Yankees didn’t waste the double by Jeter last inning, things might have played out differently.
That said, Girardi needs to pick better spots to bring in his relievers or at least the ones he is forced to use, they always seem to need one batter before they get going.
CC shouldn’t even be in the game. 2 hit by Palmer.
i turned the game off, did they boo cc? Would it be possible to call out every batter and boo them one by one for being terrible vs a craptastic aaa 30 year old?
game is not over. im sick of all you losers saying ball game or game over every time something bad happens. if it’s over then leave the page.
Trisha, you don’t have to defend your words. Speak your mind girl!
SJ44 no way bro… CC is our ace we just paid him a record contract… he led the NL in complete games last year he is used to carrying the load… 2 out in a tie game, that is his game right there to win.. get that guy out and you go to the dugout tied… yes we have a crappy bullpen OBVIOUSLY but CC blew this game dude no way around it.. 120 pitches is nothing for him he is just not getting it done right now
Tough luck game for Sabbathia.
Torre Hunter hits CC’s 119th pitch of the game for a double. One of the few well hit balls the angels produced today.
There’s going to be a lot of moaning about CC now that the team is down.
But it’s simply not his fault. You can’t expect pitchers to constantly feel like they have no margin for error at all because the team isn’t going to score.
Few soft hits did CC in there.
Now the bull pen doesn’t pick him up.
great job by alba, he’s something special.
Well Damon is a Joke in the outfield. He gets a few pops here and there.
they just won 4 in a row. You knew they would not sweep LAA.
But the game is not over.
I doubt it was that, Trisha.
I thought it was a very fair explanation.
I think Pete might have meant this hyperbolic gem?:-
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Johnny looked like Abreau last night..afraid to come in on that ball
I love these “Game Over” people.
Reminds me of Tom Hanks’ Mr. Short-Term Memory skit on SNL.
awesome bullpen
I obviously don’t know as much about baseball as you guys….but how often do the Yankees get shutdown buy rookies?
Is it bad scouting?
This guy makes Ponson look like beckett…yet he sits 14 in a row??
“every single game. does joe wait for his starting pitcher to give up a run before he takes him out ?”
You’d rather he watch the bullpen give up the run? I’ll take my chances with the starters lately.
Well that sucked, but the game isn’t over.
Let’s go Yanks
“It has NOTHING to do with CC.”
Really? We are a month into the season and his ERA is 4.85. That’s pathetic. Tex is hitting .184. Tons of money down the drain. Just more chokers to add to the pile…
you come into yankee stadium with a high 80′s fastball and you 2 hit the Bronx Bombers. Sad.
facts: Jeter’s error opened the floodgates
The blooper in front of damon had a slim chance of being caught by a faster more athletic outfielder.
Our offense didn’t come to play
Excellent point SJ. Girardi has been leaving CC in too long in every game because he has no idea what he’s gonna get from the BP. I know CC is a horse, but I’d like to see him come out of the games at the 100 pitch mark, especially this early in the season.
This team has what it takes to make it to October and we’re going to need our horse down the stretch. Cashman gets paid to solve problems and this is a big one. Figure it out soon money-man.
9 outs left for the Yankees. I wonder if lightning can strike two games in a row.
hahahha. CC was MAD!
To say Jeter isn’t a good shortstop is like saying our former President isn’t a genius — or that Saddam Hussein wasn’t a great humanitarian, or that Posada doesn’t know the fundamentals of catching. It’s an understatement of Biblical proportions.
Obviously this is Molina’s fault.
Hey, see how silly that sounds?
It’s the pitching. C.C. battled but he was tiring and he left several pitches up. Alby. Well Alby is Alby. Not good.
Doesn’t matter if Johnny Bench is catching them. Pitchers gotta make pitches.
Now if we end up losing this game the very best we can do in this series is 3 wins and 1 loss. That is completely unacceptable. Girardi and Cashman must go. Yesterday.
regardless if the Yanks come back, Girardi is poorly managing these games, yesterday included, has CC throw 120 pitches leaves him out there till he completely caves, his arm will fall off by August at this rate, doesn’t know how to pick his spots w/ the bullpen
Nick F.
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I hate everyone on this team. Jeter is rotten. Damon can’t field or throw. Girardi thinks CC can pitch 120 pitches every outing. Nobody can throw strikes.
Why do I even watch this team April-June?
**************************************************
Please jump off the bandwagon, then. I doubt you’ll be missed.
cano is 0/3, streak on the line
Albie shows why Girardi stayed so long with CC. Another wasted roster spot.
The bullpen is the only thing holding this team back.
Tex? He will hit. Only fools believe otherwise.
The starters? Haven’t been great but, a better bullpen would mitigate some of these performances.
Its all about the bullpen people. If they don’t fix it, they are dead in the water.
That has to be Cashman’s #1 priority right now.
Its really inexcusable to not have a single guy capable of putting together consistent performances other than Mo.
Gotta fix it Brian. Get to work.
“But it’s simply not his fault. You can’t expect pitchers to constantly feel like they have no margin for error at all because the team isn’t going to score.”
You people are delusional. Take off the blinders. Sabathia’s ERA is almost 5! Sorry, but that’s not good enough.
I’ll take Molina behind the plate ANY time….
The man pitched 6.2 innings, and there are people saying he choked and has been a disappointment. Unbelievable.
The guy was at 120 friggin’ pitches. He would not…NOT have been pitching any more if we had ANYONE in the bullpen who was consistent.
He gave up all four of those earned runs because he HAD to keep pitching. The guy pitched his butt off today, and kept a good offense to 1 run (that wasn’t earned), until he was asked to throw past his limitations.
I know I’m not the height of optimism, because I refuse to think they’re ALWAYS going to win, but you people are just absolutely unreal sometimes.
this is the yankees problem. we could have gotten out of it with 0 runs scored or 1 run scored, or even 3 runs scored, but we bring in a loser and he gives up another run easily. the red sox bring in losers like hunter mahan or whatever his last name is and get important outs of them.
Cano is starting to look like his old self.
Damn!
“Unfortunately, today is yet another example of what a bad bullpen does for you.
CC is at around 120 pitches and Girardi is pushing the envelope because he has zero confidence in anybody out there.”
Completely agree. I’ve been very focused on the link between the starting pitching’s lack of length hurting the bull pen.
But today was completely about the lack of offense and the manager’s complete lack of confidence in this pen.
CC did more than his share in this game and under other circumstances should never have been left in the game to face two right handed hitters like Kendrick and Hunter.
This was a game where not having Bruney really hurt them.
If the Yankees had any middle relief whatsoever, CC wouldn’t have come out to open the 7th. THAT is the biggest problem here.
UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Angels have first and second and nobody out. Bet they figure out a way to score. Mike Scoscia’s teams handle these situations well.
– Polar Opposite of the Yankees
I really wish we had Santana. Joba has to be in the pen its absurd how thin and bad the pen looks.
Johnny D. I hope thats a joke
I understand that Girardi doesnt trust the bullpen but he can’t continue to leave the starters out there to dry. CC was on fumes. He had NOTHING left. Giardi has been absolutely dreadful this season. That is like the 5th time this season that Girardi left a pitcher out there in the 7th with nothing left. He did it yesterday with Pettitte. It is obvious that Girardi has the mindset that no matter how many pitches the pitcher throws threw 6 he is pitching the 7th. You can’t manage like that. If the bullpen is soo bad let a new pitcher start the 7th inning. There might be a better outcome then to bring guys in with the bases loaded or runners on 2nd. If CC continues to throw 120 pitches every start in April he will have nothing left by June. Girardi is clueless.
donnie, chocolate chunk is an ace. he could have gotten out of it with 1 run given up, but he decided he’s not on the brewers, so it’s not important anymore.
This is as impatient at the plate as Cano has looked all year, so far.
pretty sad when if you retire the side without giving up a run the previous night, u are the number 1 reliever… meanwhile where is Marte is he hurt or something…. he hasn’t pitched since april 25th… i dont care how bad hes been its not like anyone else is getting it done, give him an inning
Not going to come back 2 days in a row
This one is over… Shields owns us and will shut us down.
Atleast we guaranteed the split, I guess that’s the best this team can do…
Nick F. May 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I hate everyone on this team. Jeter is rotten. Damon can’t field or throw. Girardi thinks CC can pitch 120 pitches every outing. Nobody can throw strikes.
Why do I even watch this team April-June?
==========================
Then don’t watch, find a new team and go away. Simple solution
“The man pitched 6.2 innings, and there are people saying he choked and has been a disappointment. Unbelievable.”
Might as well give him the Cy Young now! 6.2 innings?!?!? NO WAY?!?!?! All is forgiven because he pitches 6.2 innings! Nevermind that his ERA is near 5, he ALMOST pitched 7 innings. WOWEWOWEWOW!
yea but if the bullpen and CC at 110-120 pitches are both going to give up runs anyway, i’d rather protect the guy we really need and the guy that can be effective pitches 1-100. the bullpen gives up runs whenever they come in. CC gives up little til he fatigues. i’d like to protect that. girardi pushing CC this hard this early is risky at best and reckless at worst.
I knew we should have signed Juan Cruz. What a foolish foolish move not to.
I never ONCE booed ARod. Unlike you, I am a baseball fan and I understand and appreciate greatness. And unlike you, I’ve been a fan of this team for a long, long time. I’m not a johnny-come-lately fan like you probably are that didn’t even know the team existed until after they won a ton in the 90s. Go away.
———-
Yeah, calling Sabathia “Fatso” and a “choker” and telling everyone that Teixeira “deserves to be booed and treatedl badly” really illustrates your knowledge as a baseball fan.
What a tool.
CC is no Johan Santana, but there’s not a single team in baseball that wouldn’t give up a ton of prospects to have him on their team — if they could afford to pay him. I believe the fact that he’s being paid as much as he is does make it less black and white, however. But still…
people criticizing cano already
UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Angels have first and second and nobody out. Bet they figure out a way to score. Mike Scoscia’s teams handle these situations well.
—Polar Opposite of the Yankees
That was not me. Just some retarded impostor who’s mother drank anti-freeze while she was pregnant with him/her.
3 hit by palmer.
Time to put Jobber in the pen
This is getting ridiculous. We just can;’t win close games unless we rally late. We can never protect a lead/tie.
pettitte and sabathia both stayed in too long because there was no one to go to in the bullpen
they both should have been out of games they pitched well in.
can we please get some runs now
Hey Captain — To whom do you want Girardi to hand the ball?
. . . sound of crickets
“I really wish we had Santana.”
Is that what you were thinking after Phil Hughes last start?
Let’s see how you feel about that tomorrow when it’s Hughes taking the mound in place of Cano instead of Aceves – who would have been pitching if Hughes had been traded.
The notion that Santana is better than having both CC and Hughes is a reach.
Do we have it in us again?
Go Yanks!!!!
Really? We are a month into the season and his ERA is 4.85. That’s pathetic. Tex is hitting .184. Tons of money down the drain. Just more chokers to add to the pile…
—————
Brilliant stuff from a knowledgeable Yankee fan.
Find another hobby. Baseball is too much for you.
Girardi once again let the game out of hand.e
With him managing, Yankees won’t have a championship, guaranteed.
I’m a tool. And you’re name is Guiseppe Franco. You don’t perform (or show a history of performing), you deserve to be boo’ed. Sorry. These two guys made a combined $6 million over the last month. And they’ve been pathetic.
“Let’s see how you feel about that tomorrow when it’s Hughes taking the mound in place of Cano instead of Aceves – who would have been pitching if Hughes had been traded.”
Wait, what?
“I knew we should have signed Juan Cruz. What a foolish foolish move not to.”
Seconded. This team put to much faith in a bunch of Girardi approved scrubs like Veras and Edwar.
Our bullpen has to be the absolute worst with inherited runners
They just can’t get outs in big spots
Nice at-bat and way to work a walk, Jose Molina!
That’s why you need him in the game. Even if his game-calling skills diminish in the late innings, he still comes through at the plate.
UHHH did anyone not watch CC pitch at all last year… im not saying hes always going to be as good as he was at the end of last season with the Brewers but come on guys he is underperforming even he would admit that… obviously this start was better, he will get there
I’m sorry. Tex is amazing! Go Yanks! Where’s my #1 foam finger and pink yankee hate to prove I’m a huge fan! All the Yankees can do no wrong. I heart the Yankes. Let’s go Yankees! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Is that better? Teenie-bopper.
If we lose the yankee post game will go like this.
“Well you know Palmer made great pitches tonight. He kept the ball down plus his pitch have a lot of movement. He was a strike throwing machine. You have to tip your hat to the guy.”
Did you see we signed cody fossum? Maybe he can come relieve.
“obviously this start was better, he will get there”
5 runs over 6.2 innings?
I HATE that we pinch hit for Pena in this spot.
Don’t just look at a stat sheet, THINK.
“CC’s ERA is almost 5″. Really? Have you watched his starts?
Aside from his first start, most of his trouble innings have come between pitches 100-120.
Now, think for a minute.
Do you think if Girardi had guys he had confidence in back there, he would be pushing the envelope so much with CC and the rest of the starters?
Its not just about looking at a stat sheet. Any boob can do that. Its watching the game and looking at how things developed.
CC pitched fine tonight. He should have come out of the game sooner but couldn’t because the BULLPEN STINKS.
It ain’t complicated.
How much money he makes is MEANINGLESS.
Unless the money can throw 95 with movement, the size of his paycheck isn’t relevent to the discussion.
6 starts and he’s pitched well enough to win 4 this year if they had a bullpen.
They don’t and until they do, there will be games like this every week with this team.
That’s why the clock is on Cashman and management IMO to fix this bullpen. They can’t wait much longer.
Fans like Jobamania make me wish I was a fan of another team. Its disgusting because hes no the other fairweather fan that the Yankees have. We lose 1 game, and it becomes panic. CC pitched well today. Was he perfect? No. But he did pretty good with 2 mistakes. He was great on monday against the Tigers yet still got the loss.
This game has tip your cap written all over it.
Did our starters build up enough arm strength this spring?
Their stamina seems to be awful, they usually implode in the 5th-7th. It’s not like their big innings have bene early. They have cruised early then blown up later on.
Now Berroa the butcher needs to play 3rd.
great job posada
now we have berroa at 3rd too
“when it’s Hughes taking the mound in place of Cano instead of Aceves – who would have been pitching if Hughes had been traded.””
Meant to write Hughes taking the mound in place of Wang instead of Aceves…
Posada striking out was CC’s fault there. CC gave Posada bad advice before that AB
Posada K’s this isn’t our day.
I’m still waiting for the Girardi critics to answer — whom should he have brought in to start the 7th?
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
people criticizing cano already
=========
Really. Even the poseurs on here who lectured that he “had to go” are smart enough to keep their mouths shut about him now.
Its your, not you’re.
PSA for Jobamania.
These guys have to be used no matter what. Alba to start the inning, give Robertson a chance. Call up Jackson try him. But you can not continue to run up pitch counts to 120 leave the pitcher out there feeling helpless. I would rather have a fresh bad pitcher then one on fumes at 120 pitches with nothing left. Trying to get a pitcher threw the 7th inning every single day at 110 pitches isn’t going to work much longer.
“He was great on monday against the Tigers yet still got the loss.”
YOU are the type of post-2000 Yankee fan that makes me sick to my stomach and embarrassed to be a Yankee fan. YOU are the type that walks around talking about 26 world series championships.
brett gardner as our savior.
lol
“3 hit by palmer.”
Remember when Aaron Small went 10-0. 3 hit by Palmer is easier to explain that that.
CB,
Of COURSE, you’re right when you say:
The notion that Santana is better than having both CC and Hughes is a reach.
On the other hand, you have to consider that the discounted net present value of Santana’s contract is WAY below CC’s contract. And in a big postseason game, based on past performance anyway, there’s no comparison whatsoever between the two. Santana is definitely one of the top two or three pitchers in all of baseball. Nobody can know what CC is exactly at this point.
But again, I’m THRILLED CC is on our team. And I’m thrilled we still have Hughes, too.
Why is Brett Gardner still on this team? He couldn’t hit underhanded pitching.
Pat the yankees actually had offense then.
bases juiced for el capitan
Sterling sounds drunk right now…
“YOU are the type of post-2000 Yankee fan that makes me sick to my stomach and embarrassed to be a Yankee fan. YOU are the type that walks around talking about 26 world series championships.”
been a fan since 73
“Its your, not you’re.”
LOL. I love people like you. You make me laugh. Get a life.
sound logic or not, girardi has been pushing very few of the right buttons on either sides of the baseball. really unsure if that’s a spot pena needs to be pinch hit for, save it for molina or even gardner (if you are desparate in the 9th and worry about the defense later).
wow Sterling has no idea what’s going on, he’s constantly wrong on counts
Walking Gardner?
Now that’s a shoddy bullpen.
Angel –
Hey Yankee fans, I love our guys so much I can’t even work up any upset. If they are out there trying to stink out the joint by lazing around, then I get upset. Short of that I root for them through thick and thin. If I’m going to have their backs when they’re doing great, I’m going to have their backs when they’re not doing so great.
It isn’t that I don’t have eyes. It’s that I do. I can see that they’re trying.
Come on Jeter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Gardner with a walk
gardner is going to lap molina around the bases if it comes to that
Just alittle overmanging there. Pena has had great at bats the last 2 days. No reason to pinch hit for him there.
Maybe all this Melky vs. Brett stuff totally missed the point.
They’re the Wonder Twins. We need both of them in the lineup at the same time.
They need to get Robertson into a game. Might as well do it today down by a few runs.
Doesn’t change the fact that you probably come back to every Red Sox fan with “26 time champs” or some other corny line. You are one of the fans that chants Hip Hip Jorge. That’s cool……
Pete said -
“CC Sabathia was furious as he left the mound, shouting something into his glove. He then fired his glove and cap into the bench and stalked off to the clubhouse.”
Yeah, well when you walk a tightrope for 6 of the 7 innings you pitch you have no one to blame but yourself. The guy simply cannot get into any rhythm. Every inning he would fall behind hitters, give up a hit or two, and throw tons of pitches. He escaped because of some great plays, but with the Angles, it catches up to you in a hurry.
I sincerely hope this guy can find his mojo fairly soon, our bullpen is not good enough to bail him out of jams.
Time to tie this b*tch up.
Pete- why is 2-4 unacceptable for CC starts yet fans need to give tex and his .184 average time to adjust to new york?
For no explainable reason, The Yankees don’t play well on Saturdays, Old Timer’s Day, and George Steinbrenner’s birthday (4th of July).
RGR,
jobamania is probably another 10 year kid with a computer and a stat sheet and can’t understand why things don’t go the way they go as they do when he plays video games.
Lots of fans like that these days. Unfortunately, that’s what leads to folks booing players and booing them for the wrong reasons.
Its a good team in a lot of areas. It has one major weakness. Its bullpen.
Last year, it was a strength. So, they have to fix it. That’s it.
Fix the bullpen, and this will be a very, very good team this year, provided they can stay healthy.
Wow! Talk about a mother turning on her young.
Let me see if I get this:
Damon is a joke – doesn’t have an arm but that is really it, can still hit, field and run; interesting.
CC is fat and joke – has been inconsistent until his last two starts.
Tex is a joke – He isn’t producing RBI’s but still gets on base and his defensive value alone is a huge plus.
Could go on but really, what is the point. These are clearly statements by over reacting fans. Yes, the bullpen is weak right now; based on what Cashman said, think they are aware of it. The offense is missing ARod, but they are still above average without him. And the team ERA is high, but mostly because of two pitchers – Wang, Veras, – seriously if any of you crying knew that Wang would perform like he has, you are full of crap.
Bottom line, Yanks are in the mix and OH by the way, they have ONLY lost 2 series all year. If they keep winning 2 out of 3 and splitting 4-game series at worst, they will be tied for first by the All Star break at a minimum.
FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
“It isn’t that I don’t have eyes. It’s that I do. I can see that they’re trying.”
Excuse me while I go throw up.
laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame
Its ova
lol… or not.
“jobamania is probably another 10 year kid with a computer and a stat sheet and can’t understand why things don’t go the way they go as they do when he plays video games.”
Yup. You got me there. Good call.
What a frustrating game. That was our chance.
Ofcourse 57 year old Jeter can’t beat that out…
how many friggin blown calls do the umpires have to make against the yankees before girardi grows a set and gets thrown out of a game. He needs to start fighting for his players or they will soon lose respect for him.
I hope hes not a grown man named Jobamania lol
“Doesn’t change the fact that you probably come back to every Red Sox fan with “26 time champs” or some other corny line. You are one of the fans that chants Hip Hip Jorge. That’s cool……”
Actually I dont use “26 time champs” at all. And lol at the 2nd part. So anyone that cheers hip hip jorge isnt a real Yankee fan?
Anyone that gives up on one of the best pitchers after a month isnt a real fan. Is it because hes black? Because you could always go cheer for the Sox. They’ll make sure that no fan will ever have to watch a black man pitch in the major leagues
carl
The point was if you watch baseball long enough, nothing should surprise you. Palmer can be Cy Young and Brett Gardner can be Babe Ruth some days.
as good as this team looks 1 day, the next they will look that much worse
There’s the difference…Aredondo manages to knock one down…CC didn’t quite reach.
“He has not won a game since April 11 and he won’t win today. The Yankees will be 2-4 in his starts if they lose today. Unacceptable.”
Easy there, Pete. The teenie-bopper foam finger fans will call you a bandwagoner. CC pitched GREAT today and has been EXCELLENT all year long. He is trying so hard and wants to win so badly. In fact, today was the greatest start ever.
You people make me sick.
You can’t rely on large rallies every night
I still want to know who’s better than a tired Sabathia? Marte? Ramirez? Alba? Veras?
Don’t blame Girardi; Cashman provided him with these gems.
No problem, Jobamania. It seems you needed a little help in the “not only looking like a tool, but now an illiterate tool” stakes.
I am more than happy to be of service.
“On the other hand, you have to consider that the discounted net present value of Santana’s contract is WAY below CC’s contract.”
Do you think the Yankees really cared about the discounted net present value?
I assume your talking about Santana’s deferred money.
The yankees don’t care about that. They don’t. That’s not part of their business model.
The only issue with Santana vs Sabathia was the opportunity cost of not having Santana on the 2008 yankees – and given how flawed the 2008 team was that opportunity cost was small.
And how is it possible to suggest that Santana is some great post season pitcher?
He’s thrown 4 post season games in his career and has an ERA of close to 4.
You can’t somehow suggest that Santana is Bob Gibson in the post season and a known quantity.
And there’s also no doubt that over the past 2 seasons CC has been one of the top 5 pitchers in the game. No question.
“Is it because hes black? ”
Pete, I am VERY offended by this. Very childish. I wouldn’t expect much different from this idiot, though. Please ban this shallow moron.
“Excuse me while I go throw up.”
While you’re there check the standings to see if there’s a nothing team you’d like to frontrun with!
lol veras gives a bomb
I never want to see Veras again, dammit Girardi punted this game.
Damnit CC, why did you just give up that HR from Veras body to Moralas?
how terrible is this bullpen
Veras is the man.
Veras should get a raise…
hello, my name is jose veras. i give up HR, you like?
Jose Veras again. Ugh.
Either Girardi wants to see him pitch himself off the team or he truly believes he can fix him.
Amber Alert for David Robertson. If you aren’t going to pitch him, then why are you carrying 13 pitchers on the roster?
Makes no sense to me to be a bat short on the bench and not use all of your pitchers.
And Jose Veras shows why he has to go.
That’s it for me today folks. Have a great day and let’s hope Hughes has his mojo tomorrow.
I’m sorry but I guess my eyesight isn’t so good but can somebody help me out?
Is that Jose Veras pitching?
Same story as last year, just look lethargic and lifeless in day games after night games.
Injuries have taken a toll as well and Texieria looks like Will Nieves
“Do you think the Yankees really cared about the discounted net present value?”
Um yes. They do care. They run a business.
Time to cut Veras. Or wait, is this a great appearance for him? He is trying so hard so maybe we should keep him around.
Do we need to send out a missing person’s report for Robertson?
Veras..
why is Jose Veras still on the team. Steven Jackson needs to be recalled.
SJ44: I agree with you, but please be careful, you’ve been held up as a role model for always-respectful discourse on this board.
i feel bad for sabathia. he really did pitch a great game. too bad he couldn’t get the run support. and why is dave robertson not out there right now?
“to see if there’s a nothing team”
Be careful, the man with a girl’s name (Angel) will be here quickly to call you out.
Good grief. Put Robertson in the game, already.
If you let him rot out there for a week without using him, he becomes useless when you do use him because he hasn’t seen the mound and loses his command.
Hell, Mo loses his command a bit when he doesn’t work. What do you think that time off does to a 23 yr old kid?
One more time. Who do you want to see? What choices does Girardi have? This bullpen, with the exception of Rivera and Coke, is absolutely awful.
veras and edwar should throw for the home run derby
bottom line anyone w some knowledge knows you cant just look at a finished stat line and make conclusions… some of these comments are laughable but hey the masses are stupid thats just the way it is…. the games are blacked out on saturdays where i am so it wasnt on, but through 6 CC had 1 walk and hes been struggling mightily with his command so ill say thats an improvement.. i also know he had 2 out in a 1-1 game in 7th, in position to get out of the inning but he just couldnt nail it down…. he has been dominant at times in his career, hes a great pitcher but he hasnt completely gotten there yet with the Yanks for whatever reason. But his resume and stuff are there. Also, can we please demote or completely get rid of Veras. Thanks.
You guys know what’s hilarious?
When people who clearly know nothing about baseball spit vitriolic garbage on the internet, show their stupidity and ignorance, and still don’t know just how dumb they sound, even after being politely informed of that fact.
Cracks me up every time.
“Pete, I am VERY offended by this. Very childish. I wouldn’t expect much different from this idiot, though. Please ban this shallow moron.”
How is what I said childish again? Because I asked you if you didnt like him because he’s black? Explain how thats childish. Or do you have better things to do? Like trading CC for John Rocker in MLB 09
Hmm, not stopping the bleeding there, unfortunately. Oh well.
“They need to get Robertson into a game. Might as well do it today down by a few runs.”
Agreed. The one thing I will say about Girardi this season.
He’s managed the pen a lot like Torre would have.
Trust the “veterans” like Veras and Ramirez without using the younger pitchers an opportunity to pitch in spots when they can succeed.
He’s been very conservative, almost reactionary, in his willingness to use younger pitchers vs. Veras.
Jose Veras. I don’t even know what to say at this point.
Saunders is an excellent pitcher and with this same crap lineup out there, I have no confidence tomorrow.
Looks like we’re going to settle with the split and be right back to .500. Then we play the Sox and Rays who are starting to find their groove.
Mediocrity is what we are until this pitching/bullpen sorts it self out. And who knows when that will be. We can’t score 10 runs every night.
So this has to be a little frustrating for CC. He is on the short side of offensive support and even though he gave up 4 runs, it is not good to see your bullpen let the lead expand.
Veras is just brutal right now.
But in all fairness to CC, you cannot have your starter going out each time feeling like he has to throw a no hitter just to give his team a chance to win. He struggled some but no different than he did last year before getting things straightened out. Just unfortunate.
Joe Girardi has been a complete failure this year. The Yankees are 13-10 despite him.
First he leaves Sabathia in to face Kendrick and Hunter then he brings in Albaladejo and Veras. What a freaking dope. I’m really getting tired with how Girardi is managing the team. I was a supporter of his last year when the team struggled because he was making the right moves. That is not the case this year at all.
michael kay looking for a cheap shot
Can Giardi please give Robertson a chance for once. He pitches him once a week and then wonders why he doesnt have good control. I dont know how good Robertson will be but he can’t possibly be any worse then Veras. Veras probably cant even make the Nationals bullpen.
CB
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The notion that Santana is better than having both CC and Hughes is a reach.
=====
Apparently this is the new math for some.
I sure won’t be complaining if we take 3 of 4 in this series. Even in the best of circumstances, it’s difficult to sweep a 4-gamer, even at home.
Bullpen blows. Release Ramirez, Veras as soon as this game ends. If some teams claim them, good luck. I’d rather take my chances with high school pitchers than these plugs.
Yankees should get Willy Randolph
i know Marte has been awful but he hasn’t pitched in almost two weeks…. give him an inning or two i dont get it… Veras should seriously should not see the mound again…. call up anyone, a rookie leaguer could do a better job than this dude right now….
I have a girl’s name.
Why is Michael Kay trying to give the guy grief about wearing a wedding ring when he pitches?
veras is the duaner sanchez of the yankees
Jobamania is on a roll, lol.
I’m not a man with a girls name. But nice ASSumimg there, genius.
I’m a girl with a girl’s name.
Wanker.
Don’t think we’d have seen Veras if we had pushed across some runs in 7th.
This is a great Yankee site…It’s a shame that 80% of what is written here is so negative and anti-Yankee….It would be funny if it were not so sad……Veras’s days in Pinstripes is coming to a conclusion
can’t even make double players today
“Why is Michael Kay trying to give the guy grief about wearing a wedding ring when he pitches?”
Because he can scuff the ball if he wears on the mount. Kay likes to hear himself speak but it’s a somewhat valid point.
I’d like to think that they’re just showcasing Veras at this point, but I can’t think of who they’re showcasing him for. Yeesh.
*mound
Come on we all seen this coming a mile away. Matt Palmer retiring 14-15 in a row was the game. 88 mile per hour fastballs down the middle.
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Yankees should get Willy Randolph
======
We already have a quality second baseman.
Pat M, you should go to nyyfans where the entire site has their head up their bums. Sorry for being realistic
“Makes no sense to me to be a bat short on the bench and not use all of your pitchers.”
SJ,
This is squarely on Giradi. How to use the pitchers is his decision.
Last year he got tons of credit for distributing the work and “trusting” all the guys in his pen.
This year we haven’t seen that at all.
The only reason that Veras is out there now instead of Robertson is because veras is “experienced.”
He’s managing the pen similarly to what we saw from Torre.
Torre had the same problem in his last few seasons with the yanks. Bad pen. Keep going to the same guys. Let the younger guys go days and days without getting into a game.
This Angels team is a shell of it self at the moment
Garrett Anderson is gone
K-Rod is gone
Vlad is injured
Santana/Escobar/Mosely are injured
Shields is awful
Bullpen overall is awful
Journeymen filling out their pitching staff
And they still own us. We had to scratch and claw just to beat this pathetic team. And they’re going to get their split by winning tomorrow. And right back to .500 we go facing a Boston team who swept us last week.
“Wanker.” LOL. That’s funny. But who says wanker anymore? Are you British?
New update from Pete
“This from the AP: CC Sabathia has been released by the New York Yankees per request from fan “Jobamania” more details as it develops”
posada throwing change ups to jeter
Well, you have to hand it to Matt Palmer. As a 30 year-old rookie, this is something.
Maybe he’s the Angels’ version of Aaron Small.
3:45pm post is not me.
I haven’t been impersonated in a long time. I’m relieved, I was beginning to feel unloved by the impersonator, lol.
Girardi needs to go. This team is .500 in May and he uses the same awful pitchers every game. Joba needs to be in the pen. If he is there a pitcher only needs to go 6 then Joba can go 1-2 innings if needed. CC is not pitching like 160 mil and Tex is hitting like a pee wee leaguer.
Robertson continues to be in Girardi’s doghouse.
“Joe Girardi has been a complete failure this year.”
does *complete* mean something different to you than the rest of us?
Seems like Girardi is sending a message to Cashman- get me some bullpen arms that can pitch.
Veras has given up runs in 7 of his last 9 appearances.
I don’t know who is taking their place but my guess is Ramirez is sent down and Veras , out of options is gone.
Posada sure has a lot of his throws tailing. don’t remember that always being so. Wonder if it is related to his surgery.
Jesus….could Molina have called a game any worse than he did in this one?
It’s absurd you can’t have a longer bench in baseball.
There’s so much travel and so many games and so few off days and no greenies.
If I was the Union, I’d demand more generous rosters.
No, Australian.
I can’t help it, Donnie. It’s a heredity part of my vocabulary.
” Is it because hes black? Because you could always go cheer for the Sox. They’ll make sure that no fan will ever have to watch a black man pitch in the major leagues.”
Sorry, champ, the ACLU website is down the hall to the left, the FAR LEFT, you’re on the wrong site.
You want to push a cause, join the Peace Corps, this is a sportsblog.
groan
Robertson warming up
deluncher.
Veras is your typical AAAA Pitcher.
Yeah, Robertson is the savior. We saw him plenty last year.
It’s all Girardi’s fault anyway. He asked for this AA bullpen, he caused Tex to forget how to produce, he caused the injuries to A-Rod, Nady, and Swisher, and it’s also his fault that his overpaid new starters have disappointed. Yes, I agree with you clowns . . . it’s all Joe’s fault.
Anyone else tired of Howie Kendrick killing us? Or are you more tired of Jose Veras? That would be a good poll. Pete, get on that.
If Lohud posters ran the Yankees –
1. instead of post-game fireworks, there would be post-game firing squads.
I can’t get over how bad Girardi is managing this team. JOSE VERAS AND JONATHAN ALBALADEJO SUCK STOP LETTING THEM PITCH!
veras is beyond terrible
pepitone
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Sorry, champ, the ACLU website is down the hall to the left, the FAR LEFT, you’re on the wrong site.
============
Don’t speak for me, fella.
Al from BK May 2nd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Girardi needs to go. This team is .500 in May and he uses the same awful pitchers every game. Joba needs to be in the pen. If he is there a pitcher only needs to go 6 then Joba can go 1-2 innings if needed. CC is not pitching like 160 mil and Tex is hitting like a pee wee leaguer.
===============================
That’s cool, Angel. Are you in Australia right now? Or in the States?
CB – Yes, it makes no apparent sense for Joe to keep running Veras out there. Since Joe is not dumb, but quite the opposite, I have to ask if he has some agenda here. Are they showcasing Veras? If so, his value just keeps going down. Is he giving Veras one last chance(s) to get it straight before the team writes him off?
I have to think something is at work here that we’re not privy to. Otherwise, it makes no apparent sense.
joe girardi has been questionable at best this season. you think maybe robertson can get a chance to be as awful as veras, marte, albaladejo, and ramirez? can marte get a chance to do more joint stinking out like veras?
i hope all those fans being ecstatic for having a 1-0 lead earlier are still happy
Hereditary, I meant.
you see this is what I was talking about last night. Either Veras has it or he doesn’t. Today he doesn’t. There is no sense for Girardi to leave him in there but he does. Now when he give up 3 more runs and the Yankees rally for 5 in the bottom of the ninth Girardi is going to look foolish for giving up on this game.
EvoLuTioN
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
veras is beyond terrible
=============
Currently he seems to lack the command and stomach to make his velocity matter. This could be the give him some rope outing.
Am I the only one who wishes LoHud had chosen a Yankee fan to author this blog?
How would today’s loss be on CC? The offense was trash! They got two hits off GOOD pitches to start that inning, and he made one mistake with that flat slider. You rip the Yankee players far too often.
If the first month of this season was the only time I’d see Girardi manage a team I’d think he was incompetent. I’m not really sure what the hell is going on in that crew-cut dome of his.
Here we go with the “We need Joba in the pen” you guys are idiots.
“Anyone else tired of Howie Kendrick killing us? Or are you more tired of Jose Veras? That would be a good poll. Pete, get on that.”
Im sick of CC Sabathia giving up 100 earned runs every game he pitches
atrick
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I can’t get over how bad Girardi is managing this team. JOSE VERAS AND JONATHAN ALBALADEJO SUCK STOP LETTING THEM PITCH!
========
Veras pitching because we were down by 4 runs, have game tomorrow, Red Sox coming in and no off day until May 11. Doesn’t want to waste arms.
We have past the 7th inning stretch. It’s time for the 8th inning med check.
Did anyone forget their meds today?
Some of this stuff is absurd, everytime I try and come back I read 80% nonsense. This place is just a joke.
Does anyone here realize the Yanks are 1 game behind the Red Sox after they just got off an 11 game win streak and 2 behind Toronto?
Fire everyone! The season is over!
Get a clue!
“How would today’s loss be on CC? ”
While I certainly agree that the offense needs to take a good chunk of the blame, CC really didn’t pitch all that well. He battled, sure. And he no room for error, which isn’t his fault. But he can’t keep giving up 4 or 5 runs per start.
Bottom line = the offense put a ton of unnecessary pressure on CC to be perfect. But we need more from our ace then 6.2 and 5 runs (4 er).
Do they have another five run comeback in them
If Girardi is hovering around .500 by Memorial Day, no way he survives.
Hank and Hal didn’t spend $423 million dollars for mediocrity. These guys MUST perform and if they’re not getting it done under Joe, he will be gone.
Veras just wants to see an encore presentation of yesterday’s game.
Even if we lose this game, it’s not the end of the world.
Hughes in the stopper role again. These one game losing streaks are not acceptable.
with two outs you have to figure out a way to get out of the 7th inning as a manger. ulitmately, it comes back to him.
I got it! Girardi should sit Tex, skip CC a start or two, use only Coke and Mariano out of the pen, and come up with a panacea to bring the injured back on the active roster.
It’s always blame the coach. You idiots don’t care to acknowledge what he has to work with right now.
Tex homer im callin it.
damon could have easily made that catch….
“I have to think something is at work here that we’re not privy to. ”
I think he’s figuring let me get Veras into a game in a low pressure spot where we’re down to give him the opportunity to “figure it out.”
But you’re point is a good one. There is subtext as to why he is being used.
But Girardi does for whatever reason seem very against giving Robertson an opportunity to pitch.
The US, Donnie – I live here, in MN and have for 6 years.
But lived in Australia for 28 years since birth.
This is just one of “those” games. Still doesn’t take away from the fact they’ve already won two games of this series. I’m happy about that.
carl = fail.
“warning track” Mark
thanks tex, we needed that last AB…
Teixeira is trying to drive the ball instead of trying to get hits
lol we went down 1-2-3 on like 6 pitches
Well that was quick
Try to forget this game and pray for rain tomorrow against Saunders.
Trade for Matt Palmer move Joba to the Pen
Bottom line -
The pitching staff has been straight garbage. Highest ERA in the league, with OR without Wang.
The bullpen is 13th in the AL, 29th in baseball.
They implode for big innings and demoralize the team. Relievers can’t get outs, and even moreso then men on base.
Not going to win anything with the highest ERA in baseball through one month, nothing.
Cool, Angel. Nice to have a little international flavor on here.
Holy crap Robertson is going to pitch
The moves Girardi has made so far this season follow no logic at all. I don’t know what the hell is going on with him.
Cashman has also done a poor job. DFA Albaladejo and Veras IMMEDIATELY.
Evolution,,Your comments speak volumns….Now run along , you’re late for tee-ball practice….
This (potential) loss is on the team.
CB,
Couldn’t agree more re: Girardi using the “experienced” guy in the bullpen.
It’s the same fatal flaw Torre had – throw a handful of good innings for me and I’ll trust you forever.
David Robertson may or may not be one of the answers. But we’ve been down the Veras, Edwar, Alby road before. It’s not going to work.
CB,
Couldn’t agree more re: Girardi using the “experienced” guy in the bullpen.
It’s the same fatal flaw Torre had – throw a handful of good innings for me and I’ll trust you forever.
David Robertson may or may not be one of the answers. But we’ve been down the Veras, Edwar, Alby road before. It’s not going to work.
Great effort today guys, really appreciate it.
This pitching staff must be so demoralizing for the position players. They know that no lead is safe and they need to hit 3 run HRs in every at bat to keep the bullpen away and give the starter enough breathing room.
Damon’s defense has been terrible. He brings nothing on defense. No arm, limited speed and now he’s having trouble judging fly balls.
At this point in his career he’s a DH. He’s likely not going to be here next year.
Tell the police to call off the search, David Robertson has been found. Let’s see what he does here
I hope Robertson at least throws a 1-2-3 inning with a couple of K’s.
Seems like the only way he’s going to get another opportunity.
“Am I the only one who wishes LoHud had chosen a Yankee fan to author this blog?”
Most likely. Do you think this is the biggest and best Yankee-related blog because of the enormous power of the Lower Hudson Journal News?
I do wish there was a Maturity and Emotional Stability requirement for commenters, however.
Joe was not impressed with Robertson in ST – his comments to the kid as he was sent down were not exactly encouraging. In fact, they were fairly harsh. I don’t like GMs interfering with their managers, but this is one time I would hope Cash would talk to Joe. Then Joe will expect Robertson and Marte to be effective after a week’s rest when they pitch, and when they struggle, they will go back to the pine.
Cashman is the GM
He can get rid of Veras/Albie/Edwar. Why hasn’t he?
Memo to Brian – 29th ranked BP ERA in baseball. Fix it.
Johnny Damon could be indirectly blamed if the Yankees lose.
Victor you don’t think its the other way around for CC? This is just unbelievable how you all just accept getting three hit from Matt Palmer.
1st and 3rd one out for baltimore.. come on o’s!
If only we use Robertson
Everyone meet Robertson the new mop up man who pitches once a week…Obviously not 1 of Girardi’s buddies…
Oh yes, S.A., if Robertson has a good inning trailing by 5 in the 9th, then it’s clear he’s our guy. Let’s make sure to judge him on this pressure-filled outing.
more
Al from BK
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Try to forget this game and pray for rain tomorrow against Saunders.
********************************************
Isn’t that a tad fatalistic though, considering they’ve already taken two games of this series?
“Seems like the only way he’s going to get another opportunity.”
Agreed. Highly doubt he’ll get the same kind of treatment Veras has.
The most immediate and best solution for the problems in the pen are to hope some of these young pitchers can develop.
But that would require using them. And hopefully using them in situations where the bases aren’t loaded.
Yeah… Girardi using the experienced guys. That’s why he threw Marte into the doghouse and has gone to Coke/Albaladejo almost everyday and used Melancon with the bases loaded yesterday.
Such dumb observations.
4-3 baltimore!!!! nice, now if they can win we’ll be ok with this clusterfk…. today
Girardi has the opportunity to further boost Pena’s confidence level in a high-leverage situation. Pena has shown a relatively quick bat and level swing, a good combo in that situation w/a hard-throwing reliever.
Sorry, but that was a bad call there.
Amen, Stapler.
Paul O’Neil was right yesterday… the starters are negatively affected by the bad bullpen. They feel pressure to extend themselves and pitch deep everytime out.
Sill,
Good news. It’s all relative in this claustrophic ALEast.
Well, at least I, and thousands of other former Saturday Plan holders who got screwed, can thank the eggheads who run the Yankees’ business for not having to travel to witness today’s game. Instead, we spent some quality time with the folks who didnt buy the premium seats and watched it at home. We all saved money.
Angel – A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury – signifying nothing.
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Al from BK
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Try to forget this game and pray for rain tomorrow against Saunders.
********************************************
Isn’t that a tad fatalistic though, considering they’ve already taken two games of this series?
————————————————————
Many of them are used to the word fatal. They’re dead from the neck up, anyway.
So the Yanks will probably be 2 games back on May 2nd, season over?
Tex needs the Yanks to move the fences in 10 feet and then maybe he can hit. What a pathetic game. $160m against the journeyman.
Another walk by Robertson
Looks like it’s back to the pine for him LOL
lol @ oliver perez
Eggheads? Lol. Circa Eisenhower.
ROFL !!!!
lmfao
Teixeria has warning track power now
No way that wrist is healed.
Nice Melky.
Good day lohud.
this team is falling apart
i can see how girardi’s postgame interview is going to happen
Let’s not get down on Robertson now, maybe he’s just trying to fit in?
Walks KILL
and that is what happens when you don’t pitch for a week
ZMAN7777 May 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Oh yes, S.A., if Robertson has a good inning trailing by 5 in the 9th, then it’s clear he’s our guy. Let’s make sure to judge him on this pressure-filled outing.
=======================================
Can you please explain to me how saying “Let’s see what he does here” became “if he has a good inning here he is clearly our guy and let’s make sure to judge him based off of this outing?
Thanks
So is Robertson still the savior?
Face it, Cashman has to go out of the organization for help.
Cut Robertson NOW
Damn you, Girardi! Why’d you bring in Robertson?
I’m taking a countdown for when the Gardner fanboys rush in and demand he “deserves” the starting job back.
Great job Melkman…Seems like the Yanks slept threw this game after Matsui’s hit in the 1st inning, then completely gave up after CC decided to pitch to a hitter who was 5-6 against him. Any other manager would of pitched around him but that is for another day. Girardi is clearly over his head.
I don’t know what you guys are expecting Robertson to do considering he hasn’t pitched in a week
Robertson got 2 easy outs. No excuse for the back to back walks.
We shouldn’t be surprised though. He walked 4.5 guys per 9 last year in AAA and in the big leagues.
Time to bring up Michael Dunn
He is our savior and the guy who will lock down the 7th inning.
We got 7 runs in us?
S.A. — I’m sure you didn’t intend to annoint Robertson. I’m just so tired of people trying to blame this team’s many deficiencies on Girardi.
Don’t get down on Melky. That was planned.
His Bobby Abreu tribute.
How does Girardi expect Robertson to have his command when he only pitches once a week?
That’s especially true when his best pitch is that curveball. It’s a feel pitch and he’s not going to be sharp if he doesn’t get any work.
If Girardi doesn’t bother to use him – they might as well send him down and let him get regular work that way.
I suggest after this game we cut these players:
Brett Gardner
Mark Teixeira
Carsten Sabathia
David Robertson
Edwar Ramirez
Jose Veras
call up
Kei Igawa
Shelley Duncan
Eric Duncan
Alfredo Aceves
Brett Tomko
Buy Darrell Rasner back from Japan and trade for Sidney Ponson
Robertson pitches once a week how exactly is he supposed to stay sharp?!! Veras, Ramirez and Marte just stink. Robertson hasn’t been given a chance.
Gary
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Teixeria has warning track power now
No way that wrist is healed.
Probably more of the reason for his low start than anything but if you make that statement, from what this board is saying, you might get blistered.
Rain would be merciful. We need a day off. We aren’t historically good on Saturday after Friday night game, exacerbating that is comebacks taking a great deal out of you.
Melancon was overhyped imo as well
Um, believe Robertson would have been out of the inning without the error.
So after this great winning streak, chances are we will be .500 by the end of the weekend. We won the first 2 and went to sleep today and will likely settle for the split.
This depleted Angels team with the worst BP ERA in baseball and a journeyman pitching staff is going to split the series with us at home, after losing the first 2.
Great job. .500 here we come.
aptainsCorner
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Robertson pitches once a week how exactly is he supposed to stay sharp?!! Veras, Ramirez and Marte just stink. Robertson hasn’t been given a chance.
======
Yup. Glad someone stepped up on that one. Too silly, these people.
Just move Joba to the pen. Trade Veras and Alby for Matt Palmer.
Clyde
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
If Girardi is hovering around .500 by Memorial Day, no way he survives.
………………………………….
Interesting speculation, Clyde. I see what you’re getting at, but Memorial Day is a little too early. I would say this, if the Yankees are still hovering around .500 near, or at, the All-Star break, I think the Steinbrenners will make the change them. My guess is they go with Tony Pena for the remainder of the season, if they indeed make the change.
I was a huge Joe Girardi fan when they hired him, and still believe in him now, but, unfortunately, this team has underperformed something terrible this year, and Joe keeps making the same mistakes over and over. One move he simply has to make now is move Teixeria down to 6th or 7th in the lineup until he straightens himself out, he’s killing us in that 3 hole.
Poor Melky, he has been so solid
This was definately a team effort, Jeter’s error, Damon’s misplay on Izturis’ looper to left, lack of offense, bullpen and mostly on Sabathia’s inability to get out the bottom of the Angels’ batting order.
There really is no purpose for having Robertson in the majors if they are not going to pitch him.
That inning looked like rust. Strikes out 2 but then loses feel in the middle of the inning.
They have to decide to commit to these younger guys or to continue to stick with veras and ramirez.
10 bux says this newb making his MLB debut K’s the side
RJR, LOL!!! And I’m sure the Royals will trade us back Fat Sidney too.
toronto tied it up, no quit in these blue jays
looks more like we’re gonna be 3 out
cano’s streak is done =O
DT: making Bobby Abreu the target of that joke was very hurtful.
Not going anywhere with awful pitching and defense.
We’re essentially a more expensive version of the Texas Rangers.
I’ve said it before, but Joe has managed the pen like he knows that he’s under the gun – panicky, in other words, which is not a quality I want in a manager. I like, but don’t love Robertson, but sheesh – not pitching him for a week? Joe did the same thing in ST – he was so much better last year. I like the guy, but I’m starting to question whether he’s the right man for this job.
That said, isn’t it a problem if CC starts losing steam after 99/100 pitches? I do agree that it’s unfair asking these guys to go out and throw shutouts in order to win – so that they take the mound almost afraid to give up a run. The Yankees are missing Swisher and they have a non-existent Tex – the offense is going to be inconsistent.
well Joe G. needs to figure out this bullen and fast; Yanks don’t want to get embarresed against Boston at home…ugly game, hopefully the Yanks can get 3 out of 4 if they can put up some runs(maybe 12?) b/c you know our pitching won’t hold them down, they put so much pressure on all of our pitchers and succeed…time for some Derby-Bulls-Celts Game 7-Pacquiao vs Hatton:) Go Yanks
A call for Sidney Ponson and Rasner? Wow, interested in bumping up the staff ERA even more are we?
“DT: making Bobby Abreu the target of that joke was very hurtful.”
It’s blue Saturday. I’m digging out the risque material.
Cali Dave,
How exacly will the Yanks lose 3 games in 2 days? Why don’t you check the Yanks record before you make a dumb comment?
If Girardi is hovering around .500 by Memorial Day, no way he survives.
————
George doesn’t run this team anymore. Hal and Cashman do.
Girardi is their guy. He’s the manager for the entire season unless things really get ugly.
They have 3 hits today??! How pathetic. And Palmer will be mowing the lawn next week. How sad…
F-Rod.. hmmm…. this guy should fit right in.
Robertson walked 4.5 per 9 last year in AAA.
People hate Veras, they’ll hate Robertson just as much.
We need pitchers who THROW STRIKES.
Robertson walked two guys………but he hasn’t pitched since April 25th. What do you expect, pinpoint control?
Here’s a good cost savings idea:
Have Sabathia forfeit his salary for every game he started except for the KC game.
What a joke. When is this guy going to finally start earning his fat paycheck????
I know he’s a slow starter, but we can’t afford to just give games away because he’s impersonating a 5th starter who can’t throw strikes.
At least Johan shows up for the entire season.
Way to go CC!! But as Pete had pointed out, at least he’s a great teammate!!
ZMAN7777 May 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
S.A.—I’m sure you didn’t intend to annoint Robertson. I’m just so tired of people trying to blame this team’s many deficiencies on Girardi.
==================================
I didn’t anoint Robertson period, unless of course you think showing any interest in seeing how a player performs now means they are automatically anointed as a saviour.
If you are annoyed by people blaming Girardi take it up with those that do.
Oh well Philly Hughes on the mound tomorrow.
I’m just curious as to what CC has to do to please you guys. Honestly. No, it’s not acceptable that he hasn’t won in so long, as he’s being paid big money to be more than 1-4. But seriously, he had given up no earned runs until he got rocked in the 7th. A quality start is considered 6 IP, 3 ER. CC never should have started the 7th inning. Period. He was up around 100 pitches (might have been over, I can’t remember), but Girardi absolutely, positively was NOT going to hang the game over to Veras, Albaladejo, or Robertson to just throw it away. CC generally CAN throw more pitches than the average starter, but he was CLEARLY gassed at the start of 7th, and if we had anyone remotely competent in the pen, he would have been pulled. CC was asked to go the extra mile, and he did, and we paid for it. I really don’t know what else you guys want from him. It’s got nothing to do with “trying hard”. No, he shouldn’t have given up 5 runs. That’s not an ace starter, statistically. But he shouldn’t have been out there to give them up in the first place. We just had no other choice.
Has anyone looked closely at this lineup? Toss in the way Tex is hitting, and this isn’t exactly Murderer’s Row. As someone above said, at best you can hope for occasional bursts of offense.
Betsy – Any manager in NY is going to feel that pressure.
Look at what Jerry Manual did last year, the media killed him for how he handled Pelfrey who was a rookie but he had no choice because he had to stretch him out because it gave him the best chance to win. And when Willie’s job was on the line, he did things like use Wagner for 4 out saves etc.
Tony Pena isin’t going to manage any easier. Either will Showalter or Bowa. Not with the Steinbrenner “Win or else” mandate. Torre could because he had built up enough good will. Nobody else is going to be able to do that.
some of the nuggets from the fool posters.
melancon is overrated. yeah total total domination in the minors and college is just yankee propoganda. he is washed up 1 bad pitch.
the yanks are a overpriced texas.. yeah. texas does have astarting rotation of feldman, silva, 2 bling guys, and millwood. that is better then the yankee rotation.
the pen needs to be resolved it does affect the starters. tex needs to get out of the slump and have some prodcution besides walking..
these team is loaded.
say good bye to veras to start; call up 1 more bat.. more pen guys notturn it around say bye to them next…
Do Veras and Robertson have options?
NHYankee62
If Damon catches that flyball, you wouldn’t be posting that stuff, if facts matter, but hey, maybe they don’t.
For people who like to follow the standings so closely on May 2nd at least look at games in the loss column. Hence if the Jays win today the Yankees will be 2 games back in the loss column
Donnie he has to no hit the Angels. Sad that no one blames the offense today but whatever.
friggin lulz
ahhh…..it’s just one game, and we can take three out of four tomorrow.
Eiland has to go. None of our pitchers are where they should be. It’s not a CC issue. He’s got to go and, if things don’t get better, Girardi can join him.
Is this K-Rod’s mini-me pitching?
I don’t understand how Girardi using his worst reliever (Veras) often shows he is “under pressure” or “panicky”.
Do some people complain just for the sake of it?
5 more!
Jorge Posada: stat-padding showoff. Pitch was probably tipped.
Hopefully Swisher’s in the lineup tomorrow.
How about an inside the parker here, followed by three walks, followed by a grand slam?
Nobody has said Robertson would be the savior.
I just want to see him get some work out there because he’s got good stuff and nobody else is stepping up.
I don’t see the point in keeping him in the bigs if Girardi doesn’t use him. I have more faith in Robertson than Veras at this point.
His best pitch is that curveball. If he’s not getting work, he’s not going to be sharp. It’s as simple as that.
Hey Donnie,
What does CC have to do to please me you ask??
How about start acting like an ace instead of a 5th starter. The reason he was gassed, is that he throws too many damn balls, gets behind in too many counts. If he would throw strikes for once, he’d be able to comfortably get through the 7th.
BTW: 6 innings and 3 ER amounts to a 4.0 ERA which is average at best. I expect 7 innings and 3ER from CC. Is that too much to ask?????
No bleep, he’s going to walk here. C’mon Grit!
Very bad sign that all of our pitchers seem to “lose it” from the 5th-7th inning.
Is it a conditioning thing? They don’t just give up a run, they usually get shelled and give up bunches of runs in 1 inning.
The problem with Girardi is he is going to blow the starters arms out. He can’t just leave them out there to dry after 110 pitches. I know the bullpen stinks but you need to use them. His attitude right now is that no matter how gassed the pitcher looks or how many pitchers he throws they are pitching threw the 7th inning. You cant manage like that. Not only are the starters going to be extremely frustated but there arms will be blown out by summer.
The problem with Girardi is he is going to blow the starters arms out. He can’t just leave them out there to dry after 110 pitches. I know the bullpen stinks but you need to use them. His attitude right now is that no matter how gassed the pitcher looks or how many pitchers he throws they are pitching threw the 7th inning. You cant manage like that. Not only are the starters going to be extremely frustated but there arms will be blown out by summer.
ZMAN – i agree that people take criticizing girardi too far. but he has not been good this season, and is not faultless just because cashman/injuries have left him shallow in certain places. he gave angel berroa two starts last weekend in boston over pena for no discernable reason. he has started the bullpen merry go round in low leverage situations at least three times this season, and in all three situations low leverage turned into high leverage, and his cuteness with matchups cost us the games. he has throw to rookies (claggett and melancon) into situations early where they are set up to fail, and while trial by fire can be effective, i don’t think it’s a great way to break players into this pressure cooker.
gardner isn’t spoiling crap, thats just how he swings
lol he walks
Palmer’s first start was vs. Detoit…He gave up 4 runs in the first inning, then tossed 5 shutout innings…Add that to today’s game, and you realize he’s not some chump guy from AAA ball…..
this yankee team is going to win one lose one for a while. it has issues. do you think arod is going to come back in top shape, wang immediately really good again . the bullpen is a bunch of arms – not pitchers really yet.
and what’s up with marte? he was paid a lot of money.
players have to start being like the back of their baseball cards .
this team is probably best watched from a distance if the day to day inconsistent play drives you crazy.
the angels are a good organization and they are having similar problems with the bullpen. bullpens are tough to put together. you need a few horses to carry the rest so they are not over exposed.
the yankees are lucky they are in the won /loss position they are. it could be way worse the way they have played at times.
We’re gonna do it again!
thats the wrong F RODRIGUEZ
Ah, ah, ah, ah stayin’ alive…stayin’ alive…
Ah, ah, ah, ah stayin’ alive…stayin’ alive…
Yankees are going to lose 8 – 7 and that Melky play is going to be the difference
Hey Richie,
The Yankees are 2-4 in games he’s started.
Only the KC start was good. The rest were average or downright terrible.
This guy is supposed to be an ace. Stop making excuses for him.
Nice AB from Gardner. Never give up an AR, evne with two outs in the 9th down 5.
CC has looked like anything but an ace. ERA well north of 5.
Andy has come back to earth
Ironically, our best starter has been Joba. And we need him in the bullpen.
that was an error? it was a bullet
Dropped the third out….lmao!!!
Not dead yet?
Ghost watch
What can Cashman do to fix the pen?
We’ve used up all of our minor league depth. This is our pen, for better or worse.
We’re either going to sink or swim with it. My money is on sink.
If we had a bp we win or tie this game. Sad.
what pulse? tex is just gonna kill us
HE’S 30 YEARS OLD PAT.M loll… i wanna know the last “non” chump to make his major league debut at 30 years old… who was a pitcher?
CC pitched well today. However, he was not supposed to face 3rd hitter from Angeles at bottom of 7th innings, he has pitched over 120 pitches at that time.
He should have been pullded, and Giradi just left him in the game. That’s when the game starts to get out of hand.
Even if we don’t make it out of this one, baseball’s always about tomorrow’s game. They have to bring in more arms from their miserable BP.
Joe Mama
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
For people who like to follow the standings so closely on May 2nd at least look at games in the loss column. Hence if the Jays win today the Yankees will be 2 games back in the loss column
Forgot to add, that after the pasting they took in Boston, they entered today 1 game behind Boston. So are the Yankees really that bad or is this just that like every other team, they are plagued by injuries and inconsistent pitching.
Oh and good point, it is ONLY May 2nd!
Here are the standing from 2008. Think this team is already doing better.
2008 American League – Standings
EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA DIFF STRK L10
Boston 18 13 .581 - 12-5 6-8 143 136 +7 Won 1 4-6
Baltimore 17 13 .567 .5 10-6 7-7 126 132 -6 Won 1 5-5
Tampa Bay 16 13 .552 1 10-7 6-6 137 118 +19 Lost 1 8-2
NY Yankees 15 16 .484 3 6-7 9-9 134 142 -8 Won 1 4-6
Toronto 13 17 .433 4.5 6-7 7-10 121 112 +9 Won 2 3-7
Still on life support in this game
Two walks and a GS away
The team has heart, but heart only gets you so far
You need pitching and we don’t have it. I’m sure the Texas Rangers have heart too.
“Very bad sign that all of our pitchers seem to “lose it” from the 5th-7th inning.
”
Lose it? CC is averaging 120 pitches per start. In April that is a joke. Brunett has gone over 110 pitches in 2 or 3 of his starts. For an injury prone pitcher that is alot. When a pitcher starts the 7th inning over 110 pitches they are going to need help from the bullpen. A starting pitcher will not give you 7 innings everyday.
CC has looked like anything but an ace. ERA well north of 5.
———
His ERA is 4.85.
It was below 4.00 ERA before that 7th inning but Girardi left him out there because he doesn’t trust his pen.
Sabathia was A LOT worse last year to start the season and he certainly turned it around.
Be patient and watch it all unfold.
Paddy — Girardi is an absolutely no win situation with this wretched bullpen. As I’ve said before, when the starters don’t go 7, this team is in a world of hurt. Girardi has tried seemingly every approach — leave the starters in longer than would seem normal, bring in the trash relievers. Not much he can do when the pitching is what it is.
By taking 2nd base, Gardner made that an RISP at-bat, thereby increasing Jeter’s RISP productivity. That’s called being a good teammate.
Meanwhile, we are further getting into their crappy bullpen, which could pay dividends tomorrow.
this is gonna be great if tex is at the plate
Teix is just awful, warning track power and pressing at the plate.
4 more!!
not tossing up zeroes after the implosion occurs is hurting us. can’t have a 5 run comeback every night. but 2-3 can happen regularly. need the pen to start doing a better job in these fresh innings.
Evolution, you’re back from tee-ball practice already…You have a bump on your head, you’re suppose to catch the ball with your mitt not your head…..That’s why you write such nonsense here, all those years of catching baseballs with your noggin
pc69
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Joe Mama
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
For people who like to follow the standings so closely on May 2nd at least look at games in the loss column. Hence if the Jays win today the Yankees will be 2 games back in the loss column
Forgot to add, that after the pasting they took in Boston, they entered today 1 game behind Boston. So are the Yankees really that bad or is this just that like every other team, they are plagued by injuries and inconsistent pitching.
Oh and good point, it is ONLY May 2nd!
======
Lol. One has to sift through people with parental issues who must “blame” someone, and those of us trying to figure out how to shore up some holes on a team that has a chance to win every day.
I don’t think that was a very good at bat from Gardner.
That at bat really showed his limitations. He got one mediocre 3-2 fastball after another. And he didn’t come close to driving any of them.
That’s the problem. Sure he fouled off a ton of pitches against Rodriguez. But it’s a concern that he can’t drive or even make solid contact against mediocre fastballs in a hitters count.
Think the offense was the story in this game. Couldn’t hit a 30 y/o journeymen. CC pitched well.
lol damon
Way too aggressive an AB.
DAMN IT!
I’d just keep bringing up aaa players till someone clicks
The bigger problem is that our relievers seem to melt when inherited runners are on.
They just can’t stop the runners from scoring. No guts.
Johnny Damon with the worst at-bat I have seen in probably 5 years, and I’ve watched a lot of Melky Cabrera at-bats.
So if the bullpen does their job, the game is tied.
Plenty of gutty but not quite enough gritty today.
CB: Gardner’s at-bat looked good on Gameday, though.
If CC doesn’t implode, apparently, we would’ve had enough runs to win this game.
Why does CC get to 120 pitches to quickly?
It’s not like Girardi is forcing him to throw that many in the 8th or 9th. He should expect his ace pitcher to get through 7 innings. In his last few outings, he hasn’t been economical at all.
I thought CC was this great workhorse that could go deep into games
And it’s not just CC… all of our starters are tiring in the 6th inning.
Well, I hope Hughes pitches a gem tomorrow.
Robertson rusty? Could be that he has a proclivity of walking people like someone posted earlier.
Not surprised with a loss after a game in which they laid it all out.
Tomorrow’s a Hughes Day. Good times.
Bill X
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Teix is just awful, warning track power and pressing at the plate.
………………………………….
I couldn’t agree more. Then why doesn’t Joe move him down the lineup, bring Cano up to that spot, and let Tex work it out without all the pressure of being the #3 batter?
I don’t get it? Can someone explain it to me.
Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)
Defense lost this game.
Donnie, my question is why is CC getting gassed after throwing so few pitches? I really don’t think I’m being harsh by saying I’ve been disappointed in CC. Of course I think he’s going be fine, but on the other hand, he’s got to start being fine (and by that, I mean ace-like) soon. I’m not laying the blame solely on CC – obviously the Yankees are playing without Swish and a practically invisible Tex (this isn’t just a slow start, it’s abysmal). They didn’t play good D (apparently – I was out)…………I’m not going to kill them – after all, they did come back and win a great game yesterday. I know this team is capable…..but really, if the SP doesn’t get it going, then the Yankees (like any team) are dead.
and that’s that.
ZAN – i agree with you on that point. but that doesn’t excuse girardi’s poor decision making in other ways. not giving pena a look earlier for defensive purposes only. throwing rookies into the fire. and, his bullpen managment hasn’t been faultless just because the relievers haven’t been good. there as no reason for him to start playing matchups with runner on first and two outs in either kansas city or boston. but he did, therefore increasing the liklihood that a reliever was going to have a bad day. when a reliever is going good, you leave him in in low levrage spots, regardless of same side matchups. girardi has gone to same side matchups twice and turned nothing into something by bringing in more of our crappy relievers. when a guy is going good one day, you stick with him even if it’s righty vs. lefty, because with the volatility of relievers you can get burnt if the lefty doesn’t have it that day.
This lineup is going to have a rough time against a sinkerballer like Saunders.
Expect to see a ton of grounders to 2nd and short tomorrow.
I just ran through some numbers….
Taking Bruney and Mo’s numbers (as well as Swisher’s scoreless inning! lol) out of the equation, these are the numbers for the rest of the guys who have pitched out of the bullpen for the Yankees so far this year.
57 IP
66 Hits
56 Runs
35 Walks
43 K’s
5 HBP
14 HR’s allowed
19 inherited runners scored.
That’s 106 baserunners in 57 innings pitched.
No team, not even the ’27 Yankees can overcome that much futility.
Fix the bullpen and this is a very good team.
Don’t fix it? .500 team at best, even if Arod is back.
This team needs a bullpen. I hope they can find it.
The whole he’s a slow starter excuse is over now. It’s may, both CC and Texeria need to step up. The Yankees spent a lot of money and the two largest investments have been performing pretty poorly so far. I don’t want to spend another month waiting for these guys to get going. Time to move Tex out of the 3 hole and put Swisher in there.
m
Robertson rusty? Could be that he has a proclivity of
walking people like someone posted earlier.
___
The point is that you don’t now until he gets regular work. His minor league stats, and the ineffectiveness of the pen, make that an imperative.
Nick,
Gameday also doesn’t show any of the gritiness so it’s completely missing the upside and downside to Gardner’s game.
Oh well… atleast I can watch Spurs/Mavericks tonight
When Swish is ready to play Damon better have that game off. Whether it is tomorrow or the next day. His defense has been lazy and just old looking. He probably needs 2 days off a week at this point in his career.
Tomorrow’s a Hughes Day. Good times.
====================================
I’m already nervous again for Hughesie.
Hope they can get some runs off of Saunders tomorrow
well, back to 3 out again. Toronto wins
SJ44
Although I’m against it, Joba will be in the pen if Hughes and Wang are effective. Count on it.
SJ,
Absolutely agree. This bullpen is not just bad… it is deplorable. Worst in the league. Costing us games every night. Making the manager manage differently. Making the starters pitch differently.
Psychologically, it has to take a huge toll on the team.
But what can Cash do? He has to go out of the organization for help but who will be available that is good so early in the season?
Time to hammer down several Mint Juleps and watch the greatest two minutes in all of sports.
Glasses up for Churchill Downs.
Toronto is a paper tiger. They will fold.
However, so will we if Cashman doesn’t fix the bullpen ASAP.
Ok, since our Aunt Optimist Prime was ‘enjoying’ this one at the stadium, I will pinch-hit yet again with your Silver Lining Update:
Tomorrow we have a chance to go 3-1 in this series and will get a split at the worst against a team we often have trouble against. Pitching for the home squad is young phenom Philip Seymour Hughes, with most of our *good* bullpen arms rested and ready. Coke, Melancon, Mo, all primed to put up 0′s after a strong Hughes effort.
Jorge Posada will be back in the lineup, so that’s one more strong bat to help the offense. Maybe Swisher will be back too, or at least be available. Either way, that would stregthen the bench too. And Robi Cano is due to start another 18-game hit streak.
I’m saying Advantage: Yankees.
You don’t move guys down in the order to get them going. Just as you don’t move guys who are hot from their customary spots.
Baseball is an everyday game. Tex has better swings today but, not the results.
Everytime Cano is moved up in the order, he presses. I wouldn’t mess with Robbie for anything right now.
Tex? You work through it. That’s what you do. If not, you create a bigger problem.
They didn’t lose today because of offense. They lost today because the bullpen stunk once again.
Stayed with CC too long because he has little faith in the bullpen.
3 inherited runners allowed to score, plus another couple of runs allowed.
They seem to give up 5 runs everytime they work. No offense can overcome that kind of poor pitching.
Its all about the bullpen. Fix it, and everything else is fine.
Betsy,
Lots of people are disappointed in CC, but they don’t want to say anything because 1. Everyone campaigned for him 2. He’s got a history of slow starts (no need to say anything GB, I hear ya).
Just don’t expect the CC from the second half of ’08. You’re only setting yourself up for disappointment.
Okay, now that the starters are going 5-7 innings into games, the excuse that the bullpen is gassed is no longer valid. I realize it takes time to recover from heavy use, but this is going beyond that.
I know Tex is a slow starter, but really – I think he should get his wrist checked out again. Can it hurt?
As much as I fought the idiots who wanted Joba in the pen… I must say, he may need to be moved their out of necessity.
This BP is just unacceptable. It is affecting almost every game. Even in a blowout, Albaladejo let them back in the game and we had to use MO and hang on.
Yeah, this bullpen needs fixed. The problem is, the scrubs he gets like marte… Obviously we got rid of him a long time ago because we thought so little of him. They suck when they comeback too. Time to open up the airlines and bring some more aaa relievers in, if you throw enough shi..t at the wall something’s bound to stick
bodhisattva
Lol. One has to sift through people with parental issues who must “blame” someone, and those of us trying to figure out how to shore up some holes on a team that has a chance to win every day.
No kidding! Based on some posts, the entire team is a failure. Cashman is just stupid and Girardi must have slept with someone to get the job as manager. I mean seriously, this team is still a work in progress. In the past 5 years, there are marked improvements in the quality of turnover in the team and rebuilding the farm system. It all takes time. It is not like there is a bunch of teams on fire right now.
Betsy
Both Girardi and Long have recently said that he can now do drills that he couldn’t do when his wrist still hurt. If we believe them, the answer is no.
Negative on Damon getting a day off. When Swish comes back, he plays 1B. Tex needs a day off. Mental health break.
Teixeria is hitting .182
Cody Ransom-like.
I don’t think we could have ever imagined he would struggle this much. He heard so much about having to get off to a fast start, maybe he put too much pressure on himself. He looks completely lost. Like Giambi did in 05 when he should have gone to the minors.
The amazing thing is, how is this team 13-11, and with a chance to take 3 of 4 from the Angels, given everything that is happening.
The circus that is Arod.
Wang completely falling off the map
Nady getting hurt.
Gardner not being up to the task.
An absolutely deplorable bullpen.
Starters who have yet to find their mojo.
I really believe that if they can get the bullpen together, a lot of things fall into place.
Big start for Hughes tomorrow. He is really needed here.
If he can pitch well, some of these other decisions become easier to make.
The amazing thing is, how is this team 13-11, and with a chance to take 3 of 4 from the Angels, given everything that is happening.
The circus that is Arod.
Wang completely falling off the map
Nady getting hurt.
Gardner not being up to the task.
An absolutely deplorable bullpen.
Starters who have yet to find their mojo.
I really believe that if they can get the bullpen together, a lot of things fall into place.
Big start for Hughes tomorrow. He is really needed here.
If he can pitch well, some of these other decisions become easier to make.
At Baltimore: 4.1 innings, 6 ER, 8 hits, 5 WALKS – TERRIBLE START – I’ll give him a pass for one bad game
At KC- 7.2 innings, 0 ER, 6 hits, 0 WALKS – great start- that’s what an ACE is supposed to do!
Cle – 5.2 innings, 1 ER, 5 hits, 5 WALKS- bad start… threw over 120 pitches, couldn’t get through 6, the middle relief had to take over, need more efficiency from our “ace”
Oak- 6.2 innings, 6 ER, 6 hits, 4 WALKS, TERRIBLE START, once again couldn’t throw enough strikes, couldn’t make a 7 run lead hold up..offense bailed him out.
at Det – 8 innings, 4 ER, 6 hits, 0 WALKS- OK start… gave up 4 ER, got outpitched by Verlander, but was able to give us 6 innings
Today- 6.2 innings, 4 ER, 8 hits, 1 WALK, Average at best START, I don’t care how good he looked through 6. Your ace is supposed to be able to go 7. He got out pitched by Palmer?? Bottom line is he didn’t get the job done.
So in 6 total starts:
2 TERRIBLE Starts.
3 average starts
1 GREAT start
Overall ERA= 4.85. 1-3 record; Yankees are 2-4 in games he starts.
That’s just not getting it done. Look, I’m not saying I don’t think he’ll turn it around soon enough (hopefully in May). I know he started out terrible last year; but my point is that we need him to be CC Sabathia for the whole season, not taking off the first month or more. We can’t afford to be giving away these game. CC needs to start pitching like an ace, not an average #4/#5 starter.
Unlike some here, I actually believe in holding players accountable. He’s still getting paid a ton of $ for each start, so he’d better get used to the criticism when he doesn’t get it done.
“my question is why is CC getting gassed after throwing so few pitches?”
Few pitches? CC’s last pitch to Hunter was his 119th pitch of the game. In a game that he had to battle in like todays that is alot. There is no pitcher who gives you 7 innings every time out. 1 run into the 7th inning I will take that every time out. This game is not his fault. It’s Girardi’s for leaving him out there too long and once again the bullpen and offense.
Imagine all those hits against our bullpen, and Arod is not in the lineup tipping pitches. What happens when he returns?? This is getting serious.
Nick.
Well said and a nice pinch hit appearance for one of the nicest posters on the blog.
Really thought it was a quality start by CC. Hard to ask more than that IMO. I read some tough posts saying otherwise.
Any action on this afternoon slate in MLB? I need some rooting interest. I do have a play on Desert Party in the KD. Odds are 18-1.
Hope you are well and having a good weekend.
-dennis
When we hit, we don’t pitch. When we pitch, we don’t hit.
That’s why we are .500.
sill
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
HE’S 30 YEARS OLD PAT.M loll… i wanna know the last “non” chump to make his major league debut at 30 years old… who was a pitcher?
————————————————————
These may not be the last, but, Orlando Hernandez. I can name other rookies over 30 who one 20 games in their first year. Jim Turner and Gene Bearden. Some click late for a year or two and some click late and are gone the next year.
corona
OBP
Tex .354
Ransom .226
Not Ransom like.
I don’t think we’ll hit Saunders tomorrow.
Though I think Hughes will pitch well.
And even if we’re in a close game, who is getting the ball to MO? Albaladejo? Marte?
Major problem
SJ44
Let me get this straight. You think the pen is the problem?
m: who is not expressing their disappoinment in CC because they campaigned for him?
Wow, those numbers are horrific. It sucks for the players because they are constantly always either having to come from behind due to their SP or the fact that their pen blew it. It’s got to be draining on them….. I expect this offense to be inconsistent and I won’t kill them for today. Swish is out, obviously they don’t have Alex, Tex is in a terrible funk. It’s really hard to know where to start. I feel for the starters because often they have to pitch with no margin for error. On the other hand, they just haven’t been that good – and it really is up to them to pick up the slack for an offense that is missing some people. Thus far, they have not done that. They have battled – AJ’s done a solid job in that respect and CC has been ok – Andy up until yesterday was good. The problem is, they haven’t been lights out enough to compensate for the inconsistent offense. The offense has at times been lousy, but they’ve also had terrific moments – it’s hard to ask them to keep coming back after being put in holes by their pitching.
I think this is a very good team – I love the makeup – but boy, I hope they can straighten out this pen. I just don’t see that many options.
Wow, those numbers are horrific. It sucks for the players because they are constantly always either having to come from behind due to their SP or the fact that their pen blew it. It’s got to be draining on them….. I expect this offense to be inconsistent and I won’t kill them for today. Swish is out, obviously they don’t have Alex, Tex is in a terrible funk. It’s really hard to know where to start. I feel for the starters because often they have to pitch with no margin for error. On the other hand, they just haven’t been that good – and it really is up to them to pick up the slack for an offense that is missing some people. Thus far, they have not done that. They have battled – AJ’s done a solid job in that respect and CC has been ok – Andy up until yesterday was good. The problem is, they haven’t been lights out enough to compensate for the inconsistent offense. The offense has at times been lousy, but they’ve also had terrific moments – it’s hard to ask them to keep coming back after being put in holes by their pitching.
I think this is a very good team – I love the makeup – but boy, I hope they can straighten out this pen. I just don’t see that many options.
Tex got hurt. Because of the injury situation on the team, he played through the injury. He couldn’t take BP or any extra work for over 2 weeks. Consequently, he’s behind.
His AB’s have been better. He just doesn’t have the results yet.
His wrist is fine now. He just has to keep grinding.
CC pitched well enough to win today. Girardi stayed with him too long because he doesn’t have a bullpen.
If he had a bullpen, the guy would have given up 1 unearned run in 6+ innings and would have had a shot to win the game.
That’s the problem with no bullpen.
I don’t care what you are paying a guy, you can’t expect him to pitch 8 shutout innings in every start because your bullpen stinks.
This is a team that gives CC trouble throughout his career because they are “slappers” at the plate. They make a lot of contact, force his pitch count up, and give themselves a chance with him.
If you have a bullpen, results are different.
CC is not CC yet but, his last two starts have shown he’s getting closer.
The bullpen? That’s a different matter. Its getting worse and that’s hurting the team more than CC and Tex.
SJ44
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
You don’t move guys down in the order to get them going. Just as you don’t move guys who are hot from their customary spots.
…………………………………..
OK, I can understand that, but why keep the guy in the 3 hole if he’s pressing, as he most definitely is? You cannot have a guy hitting .187 in your 3 hole, I don’t care who he is. Either move him somewhere else, where he won’t kill so many rallies, or take him out of the lineup for a few games and let him get his head together.
Where is Kevin Long in this? It is his job to help this multimillion dollar player to get his head back in the game.
A-Rod will help us win more shootouts.
But the underlying problem will still remain until Joba gets moved to the pen.
Unless someone can name a stud bullpen arm that will be available at the trade deadline?
Moving Joba has become a necessity.
You’re missing the point Captian’s Corner:
Why is CC consistently throwing 120 pitches or so in 6 innings?
Too often this year he’s behind in the count to run up his pitch total. He needs to be more efficient to be able to consistently give us 7 quality innings.
THat’s what an ace is supposed to do.
And even if we’re in a close game, who is getting the ball to MO? Albaladejo? Marte?
==============================
I say pick a random fan from the stands(the yankees can make it into some type of fun promotion) and then maybe Melancon or Coke?
Nick in SF
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Ok, since our Aunt Optimist Prime was ‘enjoying’ this one at the stadium, I will pinch-hit yet again with your Silver Lining Update:
Tomorrow we have a chance to go 3-1 in this series and will get a split at the worst against a team we often have trouble against. Pitching for the home squad is young phenom Philip Seymour Hughes, with most of our good bullpen arms rested and ready. Coke, Melancon, Mo, all primed to put up 0’s after a strong Hughes effort.
Jorge Posada will be back in the lineup, so that’s one more strong bat to help the offense. Maybe Swisher will be back too, or at least be available. Either way, that would stregthen the bench too. And Robi Cano is due to start another 18-game hit streak.
I’m saying Advantage: Yankees.
===================
There is nothing unreasonable about any of this.
Don’t forget to add that we’re the home team, which Toronto just took advantage of, unfortunately.
It could be worse we could have Oliver Perez in our rotation….Even though he will probably throw a shut out when he faces the Yanks….
Wow, I come home to find they lose 8-4. CC stumbles agains and the bullpen implodes.. Same ol crap I see.. Tex again 0-3..I’m disgusted that a guy named palmer outpitched CC..
Maybe if the starters stopped imploding in the 5th-7th inning every day, the bullpen would be better.
We were supposed to have this staff that could pitch deep into games every night and not expose the pen.
Now the pen is exposed. Or, the starters are being overworked because the pen sucks.
You can’t fix the rotation. So fix the pen. Move Joba there. At this point, we don’t have a choice.
SJ, why did Cashman pass on Juan Cruz this winter??
I don’t care how bad the bullpen is now or how much worse it gets:
It’s NO reason to turn Joba into a 1 inning pitcher. THe kid has 4 pitches and will be much more valuable to the Yankees over his career as a front line starter than in the pen.
Moving him to the pen would be a kneejerk reaction and a tremendous waste of talent.
The more the media talks about it, all the more reason to oppose it. The media is nothing but a group of clowns!
Jerry Jones on with Costas at the Derby.
A tornado hit the Dallas Cowboys practice facility?
Hope everyone is okay
Thing I’ll say about Sabathia is he needs to be more economical. 120 pitches should get you a little deeper into the game then 6 2/3.
Teixiera has been awful. Yeah he’s walking but it’s time to start hitting. Maybe his wrist isn’t %100.
Yanks need to take Saturdays off cause they are 0-3. 22-4, 16-11 and now 8-4
CC’s last two starts have been better than the final stat line shows. Doesn’t mean he’s been outstanding – but he has deserved a better fate. Especially today.
Johnny Damon should have caught that 7th inning pop up. Even Matsui probably makes that play. The guy can no longer play the outfield. They are essentially trying to hide him in left. Yes, even with that play, CC was one strike away from getting out of the inning down 2-1…and he made a mistake. But all signs are pointing in the right direction for him right now.
Girardi is having some trust issues I think with the bullpen…and who can blame him? I think the Yankees approach to building a bullpen is a very sound approach. But the approach means nothing if the pitchers you put in a position to succeed don’t. There are only so many reinforcements in the minors that you can bring up. Melancon was the best option. Now they are down to guys like Steven Jackson, Alfredo Aceves, JB Cox, and Jose Valdez. These guys do not have the ability of Robertson & Melancon, so the Yankees I think will do themselves right by giving them every chance to succeed.
This is not the time to do a panic move…trading anything of value for middle relief help is always a risky proposition and it rarely ends up actually helping you.
Nick,
I don’t see the people who were yelling, “Give CC a blank check!!!” saying that CC’s been bad.
I’ve only seen people say, “he’s a slow starter”.
I’m just saying, some people might be expecting 2007 CC or 2008 NL CC to show up and dominate every start.
And I wasn’t talking about you. Lots of people said we must get CC at all costs.
pepitone
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
SJ44
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
You don’t move guys down in the order to get them going. Just as you don’t move guys who are hot from their customary spots.
…………………………………..
OK, I can understand that, but why keep the guy in the 3 hole if he’s pressing, as he most definitely is? You cannot have a guy hitting .187 in your 3 hole, I don’t care who he is. Either move him somewhere else, where he won’t kill so many rallies, or take him out of the lineup for a few games and let him get his head together.
Where is Kevin Long in this? ***It is his job to help this multimillion dollar player to get his head back in the game*** .
————————————————————
What’s Long supposed to do? Go down to Wrists-R-Us and pick one up for Teixeira?
Rivera
Jobber
Bruney
Melancon
Coke
Looks good, doesn’t it?
dennes: thanks, hope you are well too. The only afternoon interest I have is in Matt Cain (certified to be younger than Tim Lincecum) and the Giants. Not going well so far but it’s early. I guess I have a soft spot for underachieving can’t-miss pitchers.
Nothing at all on the Derby.
Thankfully, my Play of the Day was the Arsenal Football Club who notched a 3-0 victory before I even woke up. Everything else is gravy, some of it lumpy. Looking forward to game 7 tonight, I have my alarm set for the second OT.
Richie, that’s true……though maybe the wrist is just weak even if it doesn’t hurt. I guess I’m searching for excuses. I know that Tino went through a truly terrible slump at the beginning of his tenure……and then, he went on a tear and it was the beginning of a love affair between he and the fans.
Cashman needs to get creative and may have to sacrifice some good prospects.
Moving Joba to the pen is short-sighted. Let Cashman show some creativity for once and go out and get someone good. Pluck a closer off a bad team.
“Why is CC consistently throwing 120 pitches or so in 6 innings?”
That has been his biggest problem. He doesn’t have good command of his fastball…yet. Most of the time he doesnt throw strikes with it and when he finds the plate it is right over the middle. But lets not forget he only gave up 1 run into the 7th inning. He isn’t going to pitch 8 innings every time out and hand the ball to Mo. Someone is going to have to pitch the 7th when he leaves in the middle of the inning. If you are expecting him to go 7 innings every time out you won’t see it.
pc69
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
No kidding! Based on some posts, the entire team is a failure. Cashman is just stupid and Girardi must have slept with someone to get the job as manager. I mean seriously, this team is still a work in progress. In the past 5 years, there are marked improvements in the quality of turnover in the team and rebuilding the farm system. It all takes time. It is not like there is a bunch of teams on fire right now.
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Girardi and Jean Afterman, I guess, lol. No one is pulling away from us in our so-called loaded division, and I believe this is us at our worst. Looks like UP to me.
Repeat after me: Joba is a STARTER!!
What’s better 7 dominant innings or 1????
CaptainsCorner May 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
It could be worse we could have Oliver Perez in our rotation….Even though he will probably throw a shut out when he faces the Yanks….
===========================
I know.
I can’t believe Perez walked Jamie Moyer.
The problem is that Teixeria is not a superstar. He is a very good player who is a complimentary piece.
He is not a guy who is going to carry a team or make anyone around him better like A-Rod or Manny would. He is a guy who would prefer to blend into the shadows. You need to surround him with good hitters to be effective.
In Texas, he was with loaded offensive teams. In Atlanta, he hit between Chipper and McCaan. In LA, he hit between Vlad and Hunter.
He is way overpaid and not worth $180 million. He is a nice player, not an elite player. People who expected him to carry the team were kidding themselves.
And yes, if your pitcher is close to a hundred and your starter gave you 5 innings in Andy’s case (who admitted he labored through the whole game) and 6 innings in CC’s case, hand the ball to the pen. Now’s not the time to think about getting SP wins. Now’s the time to let these relivers start off fresh, without having to come in and put out fires on a regular basis.
Hopefully, Phil will do his part to contribute to the cause.
You don’t move him because he’s taking his walks and having good AB’s.
Here is the difference between fans and baseball people.
Fans just look at results and don’t look at anything else.
Baseball people look at AB’s, how good look in the box, and know its a building block process.
His AB’s have been much better that past 3-4 days. He’s taking his walks and seeing a lot of pitches.
You just have to keep grinding.
Look, for the folks who don’t think he’s any good, nothing can be said to them.
For those though who know the guy can play, you just have to keep at it day after day and the results will be there when all is said and done.
Kevin Long? What do you think he’s doing? He’s working with the guy everyday.
But, Kevin Long doesn’t step into the batters box for the player. You work and eventually the player will hit.
Blaming the hitting coach, a guy universally respected in the game, just isn’t logical.
This is the SAME Kevin Long who rebuilt Cano’s swing and confidence. Why doesn’t he get any credit for that?
There is nothing wrong with the hitting coach on the team.
What’s wrong with the team is the bullpen. Once that gets fixed, things take off.
NH,
What good is 6-7 dominant innings if the pen blows it anyway?
Today CC pitched 6 great innings and look what happened.
Last year every one was on Torre for not using Ramirez.
Now every one thinks Ramirez is useless.
Robertson walked 4.5/9 in minors.
Why do people think he will do better in the majors?
In spite of the rust, he walked two in one inning today. No wonder Girardi does not trust him.
It is amazing to read all this Girardi bashing here.
“What’s Long supposed to do? Go down to Wrists-R-Us and pick one up for Teixeira?”
So, are you saying he’s hurt, GB7? And how do you know that? Do you have some inside info that the rest of us are not privy too?
Come on, where did you get that idea?
“The problem is Teixiera is not a superstar”
No he’s not. He’s one of those players who are just below the level of a superstar. Similar to Carlos Beltran.
Both are getting paid like superstars though.
The Joba decision is going to really show what direction this team is heading.
Are they trying to win it this year, after spending $423 million and missing the playoffs last year?
Or
Are they trying to win in the future, potentially sacrificing this year so that Joba can develop as a starter even if the bullpen needs him?
Unless Cashman can find some stud reliever on the trade market (and I’m finding trouble thinking of names), what other options do we have?
V Torch,
Pitcher become relievers because they only have 1 or 2 pitches. Joba has 4 and his curve has become a thing of beauty. Did you see Pete’s blog on this the other day? If he goes to the pen, he’ll eventually stop throwing the curve completely. That’d be a complete shame.
Instead of having a dominant ace, you’d have a 1 inning pitcher for his career. It’s easier to find a setup man/closer than a frontline ace. Joba has the makeup and the pitches to be an ace.
If you pitch 6, 7 innings, then the pen blows it…. then that’s baseball. You still need a starter capable of handing a lead over to the pen on a consistent basis. What’s more valuable throwing 200 + innings a year or 80 + ???
It would be nothing but a kneejerk reaction and a waste of talent to put Joba in the pen.
Come on, m, you’re better than that. You’re getting on ‘people who campaigned for CC’ for *not* losing perspective on May 2.
You said: “Lots of people are disappointed in CC, but they don’t want to say anything because 1. Everyone campaigned for him 2. He’s got a history of slow starts”
That’s calling people out. CC has had some bad starts and some ok ones, much like the rest of the rotation. If I say I’m not worried about him going forward, is that just because I ‘campaigned’ for him?
He passed on Juan Cruz because Juan Cruz isn’t any good.
Look at his career BB totals, especially in the AL.
He’s another guy that gets eaten up in a big market.
He doesn’t have the stomach to pitch in NY and that’s why every big market team passed on him.
He’s not the answer to the Yankees bullpen woes.
The answer is Chamberlain, Bruney and/or Melancon. The answer is internal. Those 3 guys make the bullpen MUCH better.
The trade off obviously is, you lose Chamberlain’s great skills as a starter. That’s why its such a tough thing.
Its just up to the team as to whether or not they want to go there.
Juan Cruz? Folks would KILL him here once he melts in big games.
pepitone
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
“What’s Long supposed to do? Go down to Wrists-R-Us and pick one up for Teixeira?”
So, are you saying he’s hurt, GB7? And how do you know that? Do you have some inside info that the rest of us are not privy too?
Come on, where did you get that idea?
————————————————————
Those aren’t hand and wrist swings….those are all arms.
Trevor
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
“The problem is Teixiera is not a superstar”
No he’s not. He’s one of those players who are just below the level of a superstar. Similar to Carlos Beltran.
Both are getting paid like superstars though.
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who cares what we’re paying him? He’s a breath of fresh air at first, has very good ABs, and his bat will come around. Are people really getting anxious about us signing Teixeira?
Tex is lucky his name isn’t Arod otherwise he would be getting killed by the media. Girardi needs to give him a day off. They are lucky they are, where they are. Without Wang, Arod, Bruney and Tex doing nothing. Swish, Cano and Matsui have held this team together. Besides his walks Tex has done nothing. He always hits a fly ball but then today when they needed the fly ball he can’t even get one. Also swung at a terrible pitch in that at bat that there was no way he could drive. Obviously there doctors know more then us but maybe the wrist is not strong enough yet. Something is off besides just his usual slow April.
People, including CB, claiming that Girardi uses veterans only are just not looking at the facts.
Is Coke a veteran?
Is Albaladejo a veteran?
Is Ramirez a veratan?
Is Melancon a veteran?
No question he relied heavily on Veras for whatever reason, but the assertion that he likes vertans only is wrong.
We lost today’s game because of that non-play by Damon and he error by Jeter. Let us call a spade a spade. After that bullpen did not help the cause.
You can’t even think about moving Joba to the pen until Wang comes back and proves he is healthy AND Hughes continues to do well.
Still a long way from that. So for atleast the rest of the month, we have to live with this crappy bullpen. Even then, we have no idea if they would consider moving him to the pen. I don’t think they would.
Nick.
Lol on the 2nd OT. Really like the over in that game. Teams will be gassed to play defense IMO. I now have the SF game on gamecast. What are the odds?
GB7- You feeling good? What is the over under on first Gnats game attended? June? July?
-dennis
The team has a decent record and they are only 3 back with a lot of games still to be played. The Yankees are actually in a good position – their bullpen stinks right now, but they have hung in there because they ARE a good team. You have to assume the SP will right itself – there’s nothing to be done if that doesn’t happen anyway. Assuming that happens, you also have to assume that Tex will find a way. It’s frustrating, but SJ – thanks for pointing out some things that I hadn’t thought about. The guy is a terrific player – period. We’ve gotten some good things out of Pena and Cano, Swish and Matsui have been great. The pen needs to be straightened out sooner rather than later……..once that happens, this team will be fine. The Sox have their own problems – let’s not sugar coat it. I do think the Jays will hang in there – they haven’t shown any reason for me not to think that.